Both the petitioners i.e. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (for short 'Power Grid') and National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (for short 'NTPC') are Public Sector undertakings. They have preferred the present writ petitions seeking quashment of the orders passed by the State authorities directing them to execute the lease and get it registered in accordance with the provisions of the Registration Act, 1908 (for short 'the Registration Act'). The petitioners have further prayed for restraining the respondents from charging or deducting the amount of registration fees and stamp duty.

2. The petitioner Power Grid has been allotted Government land admeasuring 53.68 acres at Village Janjgiri, R.I. Circle Ahiwara, Tehsil Damdha, District Durg vide communication dated 20-10-1997 on payment of premium of Rs.76,74,545/- and annual rent of Rs.5,75,591/-.

3. The petitioner NTPC has been granted the Government land admeasuring 604.78 acres situated at villages Lata, Sumedha, Kumgari, Pandaripani, Dhanras and Ghorapat, Tehsil Katghora, District Bilaspur (now Korba) vide State Government's letter dated 15/21-1-1998 for construction of second stage of fly ash dam on payment of prem