An association by name Gudalur and Pandalur Farmers Association represented by its Secretary and individual lessees of the Estate concerned have filed these writ petitions praying for a mandamus seeking to direct the respondents from interfering in any manner with the possession and enjoyment of the lands of the petitioners till the disposal of the applications of the petitioners pursuant to the orders of the Honble Supreme Court dated 18.08.1999 made in Civil Appeal Nos.368-372 and 374-375 of 1977 and I.A.No.24-32 in C.A.Nos.367-375 of 1977 and without giving an opportunity to the petitioners.

2. All the petitioners have a common grievance and the facts and circumstances set out by them are also common. The relief sought for by the petitioners are identical. Therefore, all the petitions have been taken up and a common order is passed.

3. The brief facts leading to these cases are as follows:-

The petitioners are the farmers engaged in cultivation of land in the properties as set out in the annexure of the respective writ petitions. Their parents had purchased the properties through various sale deeds and the extend of lands have been indicated in every petition. All