The petitioner who is the owner of several buildings and also owner of ponds, jhils and vacant lands within the urban agglomeration in mouzas Panihati and Kasba in the district of 24 Parganas as well as owner of building with vacant land appurtenant to it in the city of Calcutta have filed this writ petition assailing the validity of the orders dated October 28, 1978 made by the Deputy Secretary, Government of West Bengal as well as the order dated December 13, 1978 issued under memo No. 2893/ULC/BKP by the Competent Authority, Barrackpore under S. 10(5) of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1970.

2. The petitioner filed on September 28, 1976 a statement under S. 6 of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976 before the Competent Authority specifying therein all vacant lands in his possession including lands whereon there are buildings and dwelling houses. The petitioner also mentioned in the said statement the location and valuation of the land and the building. On the same day, that is, on 28th September, 1976 the petitioner made an application before the competent authority claiming exemption under S. 20 of the said Act on the grounds, inter alia, that the