P.N. Prakash, J.

1. These writ petitions have been filed seeking a writ of declaration declaring that the notification under the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Lands for Adi Dravidar Welfare Schemes Act, 1978 (Tamil Nadu Act 31 of 1978) vide impugned gazette publication dated 19.08.2002 amended by an errata dated 01.11.2002 published in Form - II in the Thiruvellore District Gazette, insofar as the same relates to the petitioner's lands in Ponpadi Village, Tiruttani Taluk, Thiruvellore District, as lapsed. Rangarajan (petitioner in WP No. 8181 of 2003) is the husband of Sakunthala Rangarajan (petitioner in WP No. 8182 of 2003). The couple own a large extent of land in S. Nos. 150/3, 150/5, 150/2A, 150/2B, etc. in Ponpadi Village, Thiruvellore District, out of which, by the impugned proceedings, the Government sought to acquire 6.13 acres of land for the purpose of providing house sites to the members of the Adi Dravidar community under the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Lands for Harijan Welfare Schemes Act, 1978 (for brevity "the Harijan Welfare Schemes Act"). Challenging these acquisition proceedings, these writ petitions have been filed.

2. A few dates and events that are relevant fo