JUDGMENT

A.N. Verma, J. - The facts necessary for the decision of this petition lie within a narrow compass. In course of consolidation of holdings undertaken with regard to the village in question, a dispute arose between the petitioners on one hand and the contesting respondents no. 2 to 7 on the other with regard to their respective shares therein. The matter was examined by the Consolidation Officer who initially held in favour of the contesting respondents by his order dated 13-1-1973. According to this order the contesting respondents' branch had half share in the disputed land while the remaining half belonged to the petitioners. The petitioners filed an appeal against this order which was allowed by the Settlement Officer and the matter was remanded to the Consolidation Officer who passed a fresh order dated 26-12-79. According to this latter order the share of the petitioners' branch was th while one fourth belonged to the contesting respondents' branch. The order of the Consolidation Officer was challenged by way of an appeal by the contesting respondents which was dismissed by the Settlement Officer consolidation by an order dated 20-12-1980. Aggrieved by that order the c