JUDGMENT :

Uday Umesh Lalit, J.

1. Leave granted. These appeals take exception to the common judgment and order dated 13.07.2009 passed by the High Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad in Special Civil Application Nos.5107 of 2008, 4321 of 2008, 824-853 of 2008 and 899-916 of 2008. Since all these appeals raise identical issues, they are dealt with and disposed of by this common judgment.

2. The Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962 (herein referred to as the “PMP Act”) was enacted by Parliament to provide for the acquisition of right of user in land for laying pipelines for the transport of petroleum and minerals and for incidental matters, with following Statement of Objects and Reasons :-

“As a result of the implementation of plans for the development of petroleum resources in the country, it is anticipated that in the next few years there will be a substantial increase in the production of crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products by the public sector oilfields and refineries in India. It has therefore become necessary to lay petroleum pipelines in the country to serve as an efficient and cheap means of transportation and distribution of pet