Pranab Kumar Chattopadhyay, J.

These three appeals arise out of three writ petitions which were dismissed by a common judgment and order passed by a learned Judge of this Court. We have heard these three appeals analogously since the facts are similar and the questions of law involved therein are identical and furthermore, the said appeals arise out of a common judgment passed by the learned Single Judge.

The appellants herein purchased the lands in question by executing several registered Deeds of Conveyance during the period commencing on and from 1985. From the records, we find that the lands in question were requisitioned under Section 3 of the West Bengal Land (Requisition & Acquisition) Act II of 1948 (hereinafter referred to as Act II of 1948) on 23rd September, 1975. The possession of the lands in question was handed over to Eastern Coalfields Limited on 18th June, 1976. The said lands were thereafter acquired under Section 4 (1a) of the aforesaid Act II of 1948 by publishing notification in the Calcutta Gazette dated 1st December, 1988. However, no award has yet been passed in respect of the aforesaid lands.

The appellants/writ petitioners herein by filing the w