JUDGMENT :

Nelson Sailo, J.

1. Heard Mr. K.P. Pathak, the learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Ms. Zairemsangpuii, the learned CGC for the respondent Nos. 1 & 2 and Mrs. H. Lalmalsawmi, the learned Govt. Advocate for the respondent Nos. 3 & 4.

2. Claiming to have a common cause of action, 49 writ petitioners have joined hands in filing the present writ petition. The petitioner Nos. 39 & 40 are reported to have already expired.

3. The claim of the petitioners is that they are in possession of land, which was duly allotted to them by the Revenue Department of the State, under the provisions of the Mizo District (Land and Revenue) Act, 1956 and also under the Mizoram (Agricultural Land) Act, 1963 (Act of 1956 and Act of 1963 respectively) by granting them Land Settlement Certificates/ Agricultural Land Settlement Certificates/Periodic Pattaa (LSCs/Agri LSCs/P. Pattas) to each of the petitioners. Be it stated herein that till 1972, Mizoram was a part of the State of Assam and was known as Lushai Hills District. An Autonomous District Council was created in the year 1952 under the provisions of the 6th Schedule of the Constitution of India for the administration of the region. In