( 1 ) THE order passed by the Competent Authority at Rajkot (respondent No. 1 herein) under S. 8 (4) of the Urban Land (Ceiling and regulations) Act, 1976 (the Ceiling Act for brief) as affirmed in appeal by the order passed by the Urban Land Tribunal at Ahmedabad (respondent No. 2 herein) under S. 33 thereof is under challenge in each of these petitions. The petitioners of Special Civil Application Nos. 6273 of 1988 and 6275 of 1988 (the second and the fourth petitions respectively for convenience) are partners in the petitioner-firm in each of the petitions bearing Special Civil Application No. 5845 of 1988 (the first petition for convenience) and Special Civil Application No. 6274 of 1988 (the third petition for convenience ). The petitioner of the fourth petition is also a partner in the firm who is the petitioner in Special Civil Application No. 8951 of 1989 (the fifth petition for convenience ). Certain lands are commonly involved in all these petitions. Common questions of law and fact are found arising in all these petitions. I have, therefore, thought it fit to dispose of all these petitions by this common judgment of mine.

( 2 ) THE facts giving rise to a