As common question of law and fact are involved in all these sixteen writ applications, with consent of parties, they have been heard together and are being disposed of together by this common order.

2. The petitioners claim to be bataidars in respect of the lands in dispute in each of these writ applications and they have prayed for quashing an order of the Additional Collector dated the 3rd June, 1977 setting aside the order of the Deputy Collector Incharge Land Reforms (respondent no. 2) passed under sub-section (7) of section 48E of the Bihar Tenancy Act, (hereinafter referred to as "the Act") near about the same period in May 1975. The petitioners in these writ applications filed applications under section 48E of the Act, claiming to be bataidars in respect of the lands mentioned in the applications, the detail of which need not be mentioned. On receipt of the application respondent no. 2 constituted a Batai Board and referred the matter to the Board. On 29th April 1976, the Board submitted its recommendation to the effect that the petitioners claim to be bataidars in respect of the lands was correct. Respondent no. 2 accepted the recommendations of the Board in all the