D.B.LAL, J.

1. These five writ petitions, (C. W. P. No. 3097 of 1977, 3255 of 1977, 3254 of 1977, 3253 of 1977 and 3252 of 1977) deal with a common question of law and fact and hence can conveniently be disposed by a single judgment. The petitioners claim to be land-owners of different parcels of land situate in village Mehmood Khera, Tehsil Muktsar, District Faridkot. The land originally belonged to one Balwant Singh who died on Jan. 13, 1967 and the petitioners became owners by succession and respondents 2 and 3 are tenants and since they failed to pay rent from Rabi 1968 to Kharif 1970, and also failed to cultivate the land properly, and thus they rendered it unfit for cultivation, the petitioners filed an application under S. 9 (1) (ii) of the Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act for the ejectment of the respondents 2 and 3. The plea of the respondents 2 and 3 was that they had paid rent to one Paras Ram, who held power of attorney from the petitioners. The plea prevailed with the Assistant Collector and the application of the petitioners was dismissed on January 24, 1972. Thereafter the petitioners filed appeal before the Collector, Faridkot, which too was dismissed. Th