Hari Lal Agrawal, J.

In this batch or three writ applications which have been referred to Division Bench by a learned single Judge and have been heard together, the question of law arising for consideration is the effect of a transfer by the purchaser of the land in question on the date of the filing of the application under section 16 (3) of the Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) Act, 1961. The petitioners in all the three cases are the purchasers and arc related to each other so much so that petitioner no. 2 of the first case is the petitioner of the second case and brother of petitioner no. 2 of the third case. These petitioners purchases certain lands situate in village Harnathpur in the district of East Champaran, from respondent no. 5 and 6 under three separate sale deeds for Rs.9,000/- each which Was registered on 29.9.1977, and according to their case the lands conveyed to the petitioners under the three sale deeds formed one compact block.

2. On 21.11.1977 respondent no. 4 filed applications for pre-emption in the court of Land Reforms Deputy Collector, Sikrahna at Motihari for transfer of the lands in question to him claim