The petitioners claiming to be jointly interested in S. Nos. 51/2 and 52/2 in Kila Tiruchendur Village, Tirunelveli District have filed this writ petition stating that the compulsory acquisition of their land as above to the extent of 3.12 acres therein comprised, is illegal and without observance of the prescribed procedure under the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act (I of 1894). The case of the petitioners is that they never knew anything about the proposal for the acquisition or the later proceedings pursuant thereto, until they received a notice from the Sub-Court, Tuticorin informing them about a reference having been made to the State Government by the Land Acquisition Officer. The petitioners’ further contention is that they made further enquiries thereafter and ascertained that the acquisition was for the purpose of providing house-sites for the Harijans in the village. Their case is that they were not served with any notice either of the proposal to acquire, notice of enquiry under section 5-A or notice under section 9 (3). They would also say that at no time was there any publication in the village nor was any notice affixed at any public place regarding the