Hon’ble Manoj Misra, J.—Heard Sri Vishnu Singh for the petitioner; learned Standing Counsel for the respondents 1 and 2; and Sri K.M. Tripathi, holding brief of Sri Radhey Raman Mishra, for the contesting respondents 3 to 7.

2. With the consent of the learned counsel for the parties, this petition is being finally decided at the admission stage itself.

3. Briefly stated facts giving rise to the present petition are as follows :

The petitioner, alongwith others, vide sale-deed dated 30.4.1974, purchased tenancy land from Prayag (the predecessor in interest of the respondents 3 to 7) during the course of consolidation operations. He thus filed an application under Section 12 of U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act (in short the C.H. Act) for mutation of his name in place of the vendor in the Khata concerned.

4. By order dated 8.12.1976 the Consolidation Officer directed mutation of the name upon finding that there existed a sale-deed in favour of the applicant and permission was obtained for its execution.

5. Aggrieved by the order of the Consolidation Officer, the predecessor in interest of the respondents 3 to 7 filed appeal before the Settlement Officer of Consolidation unde