JUDGMENT

FAZAL ALI, J.:—These appeals by certificate are directed against a common judgment dated February 5, 1970 of the Punjab and Haryana High Court by which a Letters Patent Appeal against a decision of the single Judge was dismissed.

2. The facts of the case lie within a narrow compass and all the appeals involve a short point of law relating to the interpretation of S. 9 of the Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act, 1953 (hereinafter referred to as the Act). The history of the case has been detailed in the judgment of the High Court and it is not necessary for us to repeat the same. Shorn of unnecessary details the appeals arose out of applications made by Pera Ram, Ganga Ram, Bhago and Kalu Ram who were the tenants of agricultural land owned by Mrs. Raj Kanta, the appellant in these appeals. The tenants made separate applications under S. 18 of the Act on September 4, 1961 for purchasing the land held by them from Mrs. Raj Kanta (hereinafter called the land owner). These applications were allowed by the Assistant Collector on October 31, 1961. Accordingly, the tenants deposited the first instalment in November 1961. Ultimately, however, the tenants did not pay the rent of the r