( 1 ) THE subject-matter of challenge in these proceedings is an order issued by the appropriate authority on June 5, 1987, under Section 269ud (1)of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (referred to as "the Act"), by which a portion of premises No. 2, Ballygange Park Road, Calcutta, has been ordered to be purchased by the Central Government for a sum of Rs. 72,25,086.

( 2 ) PREMISES No. 2, Ballygange Park Road, Calcutta, covers an area of approximately 52 kathas. The owner of the premises is respondent No. 6. The premises were requisitioned on June 17, 1971, for the occupation of the Ministry of External Affairs under Section 3 (1) of the West Bengal Premises Requisition and Control (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1947. The Ministry of External Affairs, being respondent No. 5, is paying an amount of Rs. 1,300 per month to respondent No. 6 as occupation charges.

( 3 ) ON March 20, 1987, an agreement was entered into between the petitioners and respondent No. 6 under which the petitioners agreed to purchase 40 kathas of the premises together with building and out-houses free from all encumbrances but subject to the requisition. The portion of the premises agreed to be purchased by t