( 1 ) IN alt these writ petitions, an order dated 3. 12. 1999 passed by the Secretary, Ministry of industry, Lucknow, has been challenged who has been arrayed as respondent No 3 in Writ petition No. 8282 of 2000 and as respondent No. 1 in all the remaining writ petitions. The controversy Involved and the question calling for adjudication in all the writ petitions being identical, we propose to decide them by this common order treating Civil Misc. Writ Petition No. 7561 of 2000 as the leading writ petition. The impugned order is Annexure-9 to the Writ Petition no. 7561 of 2000. The writ petitions have been opposed by the respondents at the admission stage itself.

( 2 ) SUCCINCTLY placed. the relevant facts are that notifications under Sections 4 and 6 of the Land acquisition Act had been issued for the purpose of planned development of district Ghaziabad (now district Guatam Budh Nagar) through NOIDA on 5. 1. 1991 and 7. 1. 1992 respectively, concerning nearly 496 acres of land including that of the petitioners, spread over hundred of plot numbers. The said land came to be acquired. All the petitioners challenged those notifications before this Court through writ peti