Judgment

R. B. MISRA, J. :- This batch of special leave petitions and writ Petitions arising out of proceedings under the Andhra Pradesh Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings) Act. 1973 (hereinafter referred to as the Andhra Pradesh Act) is directed against the judgments of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and raise common questions of law. They are therefore, being disposed of by a common judgment. It will suffice to refer to the facts of Special Leave Petition No. 6794 of 1978. Chinnam Nagabhushnam v. State of Andhra Pradesh to bring out the points of controversy in these cases.

2. Chinnam Jaganmohanrao and Chinnam Sivaramprasad, petitioners Nos. 2 and 3 are the sons of the first petitioner, Chinnam Nagabhushnam. Petitioner No, 2 is still a minor but petitioner No. 3 has become major recently. The first Petitioner and the third petitioner partitioned their property by metes and bounds by virtue of a registered partition deed dated 12th of April. 1960 and since then they are in separate possession of the land failing in their respective, shares. By a second partition deed dated 11th of April. 1969 the first petitioner and the second petitioner further partitioned the proper