Prabha Shanker Mishra, J.

1. The petitioners have moved this Court for quashing the order of the Land Reforms Deputy Collector, Jamui, dated the 6th March, 1978. The said order is contained in Annexure 1 to the writ application.

2. All the petitioners have claimed that they have been in possession of their respective lands in Plot No. 2420, Khata No. 170 of Village Maura, Police Station Lakshmipur, District Manger. According to Petitioners Nos. 1 and 2, they got a settlement of 4 acres of land by virtue of a Hukumnama dated the 2nd February, 1950, issued by the General Manager of the Wards Estate, Giddhaur. A copy of the said Hukumnama is Annexure 5 to the writ applications. According to them, the land was originally recorded as Gairmazarua Malik and when the intermediaries interests vested in the State of Bihar, pursuant to a notification, in the year 1952, the ex-intermediaries filed returns showing them as Raiyats and Jamabandi No, 362 was accordingly created in their favour. Their names were included in the Register of Tenants under the State of Bihar, and rent was realised from them by the State.

3. According to the case of Petitioner No. 3, his name was included in th