1. The petitioners have come up with the above writ petitions, challenging an order passed by the District Collector, Chennai, holding that certain lands in question are classified as Government Poramboke and as Pattina Natham and that therefore, the petitioners are not entitled to any compensation for eviction from those lands.

2. I have heard Mr. M.S.Subramanian, learned counsel for the petitioners, Mr. S. Gomathinayagam, learned Additional Advocate General, assisted by Mr. N.Srinivasan, learned Additional Government Pleader for respondents 1 to 3 and Mr. V. Bharathidhasan, learned Standing Counsel for the fourth respondent.

3. The petitioners, in these writ petitions, were in occupation of various extents of lands in T.S.Nos.145/2, 150/2, 157/2, 158/2, 159/2 and 160/2, in Block No.52, Konnur Village, Purasaiwakkam-Perambur Taluk, Chennai District. The petitioners had also put up superstructures on those lands and were residing in the properties for over several decades, claiming that their predecessors-in-title, had purchased the lands from a Government Servants' Cooperative Society. The petitioners were served with notices under Section 7 of the Tamil Nadu Land Encroachme