Arun Kumar Goel, J. :- Heard learned counsel for the parties and with their assistance record of the cases has also been examined.

2. Since identical questions of law and fact are involved in both these cases, as such these petitions were heard together and are being disposed of by this common judgement.

3. It is admitted case of the respondents that with a view to lay a wide net work of link roads connecting villages with the highways, Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana was started in the year 2000 by the Government of India. What is its effect on these two cases, will be noted hereinafter.

4. In both cases petitioners claim that while constructing Kuthera-Chalokhar to Patlandar and Banal via Ree Road in the year 1993, their lands were taken over. Over such lands part of the aforesaid road has been constructed therefrom. On a question of fact, learned counsel for the parties were not at variance that no compensation for the lands of the petitioners was paid to them.

5. In this background, petitioners claim compensation for their lands out of which road has been constructed. They have also claimed interest on the amount payable to them. Their further case is that the action of