CHIEF JUSTICE & T.S.SIVAGNANAM, J.

1. The appellant in all these appeals is the Tamil Nadu State Housing Board, which was arrayed as the respondent in the writ petitions. Since, the challenge in these appeals is to a common order passed in all the writ petitions along with the batch of cases, they were heard together and disposed of by this common order.

2. We have elaborately heard the learned Additional Advocate General for the appellant and Mr. P. Chandrasekaran, learned counsel for the respondent.

3. The matter relates to acquisition of a vast extent of land in Kalapatti Village, Coimbatore District, for the formation of Kalapatti Neighbourhood Scheme by the appellant Board.

4. Some facts are necessary before we proceed to examine the controversy/issue in these appeals. The Government of Tamil Nadu issued a notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act on 13.03.1998, for the purpose of a Neighborhood Scheme and an extent of 1973.74 acres was sought to be acquired. Subsequently, the Government decided to drop the acquisition proceedings to an extent of 1186.38 acres. Thus, the notification covered an extent of 787.36 acres, and out of the said extent, 7.5