Ramaswami, J.

1. In this case the petitioners Sri Ram Prasad. Narayan Sahi and Sri Ramrekha Prasad Narayan Sahi have obtained a rule (falling-upon the State of Bihar and other respondents to show cause why a writ in the nature of mandamus should not be issued commanding them not to take any action under the Sathi Lands (Restoration) Act, 1950 (Bihar Act XXXIV of 1950) and: not to interfere with the possession of the petitioners over 200 bighas of land of which they claim to have obtained an agricultural lease. Cause was shown against the rule by the Advocate General on behalf of the State of Bihar, Maharani Janki Kuar and the Collector of Champaran to whom notice of the rule was directed to be given.

2. The petitioners allege that on 19th July 1946 they made a representation to the Government of the State through the manager of the Bettiah Raj asking for settlement of 200 bighas of land preferably in Sathi farm or Materia farm and in addition 110 bighas of waste land known as Marhia Chaturbhujwar Rakhat. On the next date Sri Rameshwar Singh, Manager of the Bettiah Estate wrote to the Collector of Champaran recommending that the settlement should be made without payment of a