1. Both these writ petitions are at the instance of the purchasers arising out of a proceeding under sec. 16(3) of the Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) Act, 1961, hereinafter to be referred to as "the Act". C.W.J.C. No. 1879 of 1979 has been preferred by the second purchaser of the land in question whereas C.W.J.C. No. 1885 of 1979 has been preferred by the first purchasers. In both these writ petitions what is sought to be quashed is an order passed by the Additional Member, Board of Revenue, on 19-5-1979 allowing pre-emption of the land in question.

2. The short facts are as follows. On 1-6-1974 one Rajamangal Sao sold for a sum of Rs.3000.00 plot Nos. 2277, 2289 and 2292 to one Radhey Shyam Singh, who is respondent No./ 12, along with his two brothers, respondents 13 and 4, in C.W.J.C. No. 1879 of 1979, who are petitioners in C.W.J.C. No. 1885 of 1979. On the same date Rajmangal Sao sold four other plots bearing nos. 2285, 2299, 2302 and 2308 to the same persons for a sum of Rs.3000/-. On 12-8-1974 Radhey Shyam Singh and his two brothers Awadhesh Kumar Sharma and Nand Kishore Sharma (petitioners in C.W.J.C. No. 1885 of 1979) s