1. The petitioner in W.P.No.17767 of 2000 claim that he is the owner of the land bearing Survey No.403, Sirukarumbur Village, Arakonam Taluk,Vellore District, measuring 3.60 acres. He also claims that he is cultivating the land with the help of electric motor pumpset, and there are about 600 coconut trees, out of which 400 trees are yielding.

2. The petitioner in W.P.No.18589 of 2000 claims that he is the owner of the land bearing S.Nos.50/3 to 11, 50/1 and 2, Thenmambakkam Village, Arakonam Taluk,Vellore District, measuring 5.10 acres.

3. The petitioner in W.P.No.18857 of 2000 claims that he is the owner of the land bearing Survey Nos.49/1, 49/2, 50/1 and 50/2, Thenmambakkam Village, Arakonam Taluk,Vellore District, measuring 0.41.5, 0.05.5, 0.22.0 and 0.22.5 hectares. According to him, the said lands have been mortgaged with Kancheepuram City Union Bank and there are poramboke lands, measuring 10 acres available adjacent to Panappakkam colony.

4. All the three petitioners have filed the above writ petitions challenging the proceedings taken by the authorities to acquire the abovesaid lands under the Act 31 of 1978, hereinafter called ‘the Act’.

5. The said acquisition