P. Sathasivam, J.

Aggrieved by the common order of the learned single Judge dated 31.07.2001, the petitioners in W.P.No.20918 of 1992 preferred Writ Appeal No.2524 of 2001 and the petitioners in W.P.No.5365 of 1991, preferred Writ Appeal No.253 of 2002.

2. For convenience, we shall refer the parties as arrayed before the learned single Judge.

3. The case of the petitioners in W.P.No.20918 of 1992 is as follows:

(a) The petitioners are lessees of plots of land belonging to the second respondent temple, Sri Vedantha Desikar Devasthanam, Mylapore, Chennai and they are enjoying the same by putting pucca terraced houses, for more than 60 years. Though their lease period expired and had to be extended in 1985, extension could not be granted in view of the first respondents [The Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (H.R.& C.E.) Department] Memo dated 22.05.1985, rejecting the proposal for extension of lease, but simultaneously declaring that such plots could be sold if the lessees agreed to purchase the plots. After correspondence, the same position was reiterated by the Deputy Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu, H.R. & C.E. Department, by letter dated