K.B.N.SINGH, J.

1. In these 14 applications under Arts. 226 and 227 of the Constitution, common question of law and facts are involved and with the consent of the parties, they have been heard together and are being disposed of by one judgment.

2. The petitioners in these writ applications have prayed for quashing a notice dated the 20th March, 1974, issued under S. 5 (1) (iii) of the Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) Act, 1961, for cancelling the transfer of the lands in question, as also the order of the Additional Collector of Siwan, dated the 18th June, 1975, cancelling the transfers made by registered sale-deeds, by Messrs. Purtabpore Company Limited, petitioners in thirteen of these applications. Copies of the impunged notice and the order have been filed as Annexures 1 and 2 respectively in each of the writ applications.

3. The short facts necessary for the disposal of these writ applications need to be stated, Messrs Pratabpore Company Limited is a public limited company and owned a sugar mill. Besides the sugar mill it also owned agricultural lands in the District of Siwan which were used to be put in various use. The Pet