By the Court.—We have heard Sri Vishnu Sahai learned counsel for the petitioners and Sri Ram Krishna learned Chief Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the State.

2. This writ petition alongwith First Appeal No. 880 of 1993 and First Appeal No. 401 of 1998 were nominated to this Bench by order dated 19.2.2014 passed by the Hon’ble Senior Judge.

3. After change of roster, the matter was taken up by another Bench of this Court on 10.4.2014.

4. Under the order dated 18.4.2014 passed by Hon’ble the Chief Justice, this writ petition alongwith First Appeal No. 880 of 1993, Jasvir Singh v. Land Acquisition Officer, Rampur and other and First Appeal No. 401 of 1998 Kuljeet Singh and another v. Land Acquisition Officer, Rampur and others, have been heard together.

5. Counter and rejoinder-affidavits have been exchanged between the parties in the present writ petition. With the consent of the parties, this writ petition is being finally decided by the present order. The First Appeal No. 880 of 1993 and First Appeal No. 401 of 1998 are also being decided by separate order of the date.

6. The facts giving rise to the present writ petition in chronological order are necessary to be n