ORDER :

Ranganath Misra, M.M. Punchhi and K. Ramaswamy, JJ. - The special leave petitions are restored. We find that in the main matter notice had already been issued to the State of Tamil Nadu and there is appearance through counsel. Heard counsel for both sides and with their consent the matters are disposed of at the SLP stage.

2. Notice under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act was issued on 12-11-1975 and the declaration under Section 6 was made on 10-11-1978. The High Court on the basis of a writ petition of the petitioners quashed the declaration under Section 6 by its order dated 8-1-1988 leaving the preliminary notification intact.

3. The State has not challenged the order of the High Court and the landowners are the petitioners before this Court. The short question raised is that the Tamil Nadu Amendment to the Land Acquisition Act which came into force in 1967 required the declaration to be made within three years from the date of the preliminary notification.

4. On the date the declaration was made there were hardly two days left for completion of three years and after the High Court order on 8-1-1988, the period has already lapsed but no declaration has been published