1. This order will dispose of four connected Letters Patent Appeals Nos.210 to 213 of 1970, as common questions of law and fact arise in them. It is agreed by the counsel for the parties that the decision in one of them will govern the others as well. I will give the facts in Letters Patent Appeal No.210 of 1970.

2. There were some evacuee lands in village Kalar Bhaini, District Hissar, and in order to give the same to landless Harijans, the Department of Rehabilitation auctioned it on 19th July, 1968; Moonga and his brother Shishu Ram, respondents 1 and 2 have the highest bid for land measuring 24 Kanals. They also paid Rs.400/- as initial deposit on the spot to the Naib Tehsildar (Sales), who conducted the auction and obtained a receipt from him. Their bid was, consequently, accepted on that very day. After the expiry of seen days from the acceptance of the bid, Chandgi Ram and Mahla Ram, appellants, made an application for setting aside the sale in favour of respondents 1 and 2. This application, though addressed to the Settlement Officer (Sales), respondent No.5, was made to Shrimati Om Prabha Jain, the then Revenue Minister, Haryana. It is alleged by respondents 1 and