JUDGMENT

C.K. THAKKER, J.

All these appeals are filed against a common judgment and order passed by the High Court of Judicature, Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad on March 29, 2000 in various writ petitions. Those writ petitions were filed by the petitioners (Andhra Pradesh Housing Board, land-owners and contesting respondents) aggrieved by the judgment and order passed by the Special Court established under the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 1982 (hereinafter referred to as the Act) in Land Grabbing Case (L.G.C.) No. 137 of 1989 on September 4, 1995.

The litigation has a chequered history and to understand the controversy raised by the parties in the present group of appeals, it is necessary to bear in mind the facts and circumstances under which this Court is called upon to resolve the controversy.

One Farhatulla, father of original petitioner Nos. 1 to 3 and husband of petitioner No.4 before the Special Court, was the owner of land bearing Survey Nos. 45-48, admeasuring 45 acres, of Yousufguda village in the limits of Golkonda Mandal, Hyderabad in the State of Andhra Pradesh. It appears that the Andhra Pradesh Housing Board wanted the land for a public purpose i.e., for