Judgment

SAWANT, J.:—Leave granted.

These four appeals are directed against a common judgment dated 19th October, 1987 delivered by the High Court in four writ petitions filed before it by four appellants. Since the questions of law which arise in these appeals are common, it would be sufficient to refer to the facts in one of the appeals, viz., Civil Appeal arising out of S.L.P. No. 3204 of 1988 since the High Court has taken the facts from it.

2. In 1920, Government of India being anxious to develop the undeveloped lands throughout the country including that in the district of Nainital offered to extend many concessions to those who agreed to develop the land. Lala Khush Ram Dusaj, predecessor of the appellant was one of the persons who accepted the offer and agreed to develop land in District Nainital. Government of India granted lease of 4805 acres of land to Lala Khushi Ram for development under the Grants Act [later renamed as Government Grants Act. 1895 - hereinafter referred to as "the Grants Act"] by a registered lease deed dated 25-8-1920 which was executed by the Secretary of State of India in Council for a period extending up to 31st March, 2013. One of the conditions of t