S.S.SANDHAWALIA, J.

1. In this set of five hundred and thirty four connected civil writ petitions ably argued by a galaxy of learned counsel the focal point that falls for determination is indeed a single one - whether the provisions of S.18(7), (8) and (9) of the Haryana Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1972, as amended by the Haryana Ceiling on Land Holdings (Amendment) Act, 1978 suffer from the vice of unconstitutionality ?

2. As is manifest, the issue herein is pristinely legal and indeed the learned counsel for the petitioners did not even refer at all to the facts of either one of the cases. Therefore a passing reference to the main Civil Writ Petition No. 3365 of 1977 amply suffices the purpose. The three petitioners therein claim to be owners in possession of agricultural land measuring 41 Kanals 14 Marlas and are primarily aggrieved by the declaration of the said area as surplus and the vesting of the same in the State under S.12 of the Haryana Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1972 (hereinafter called the Act). The petitioners consequently filed an application under S.8 of the Act before respondent No. 3, the Collector (Prescribed Authority) under the Act seeking a relie