A. K. PATNAIK, C.J. :-

The petitioners in W.P.No. 13561 of 2005 are Sarpanch and Up-Sarpanch of Gram Panchayats in Anuppur District of State of Madhya Pradesh and the petitioners in other writ petitions are all owners of land in Kotma Tahsil, District Anuppur which have been acquired by the State Government for the South Eastern Coal-fields Limited. The petitioners have filed these writ petitions under Art. 226 of the Constitution of India challenging the acquisition of land in Kotma Tahsil for mining of coal by the South Eastern Coal-fields Limited (for short 'SECL') under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.

2. The relevant facts for disposal of these writ petitions briefly are that on 30th March, 1994, the Central Government in exercise of its powers under sub-section (1) of Section 4 of the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957 (for short 'the 1957 Act') gave notice of its intention to prospect for coal in 3412.610 hectares of land in Kotma Tahsil described in the schedule to the notification. Thereafter, by notification dated 6th February, 1996, the Central Government in exercise of its powers under sub-section (1) of Section 4 of the 1957 Act gave noti