Point of Law :
Even when there are procedural infirmities vitiating a decision of competent authority, it need not be set aside on that ground and petitioner has to prove prejudice caused to him and that if opportunity was afforded to him he could have persuaded the competent authority to take a different view and such is possible and permissible

ORDER :

1. Since the issue raised in all these writ petitions is same, they are disposed of by this common order.

2. Heard Sri D Prakash Reddy, learned senior counsel, appearing for petitioners and Sri N Sridhar Reddy, learned counsel appearing for Journalists Cooperative Housing Society Limited-6th respondent and learned Government Pleader for Revenue.

3. The background facts leading to this litigation and respective pleadings are as under:

3.1 Large extent of land was allotted to Jubilee Hills Cooperative Housing society for development of residential layout in Jubilee Hills. On representation made by the journalists working in print and electronic media, Government decided to apportion Ac.25.00 of land exclusively to journalists from out of the land already allotted to Jubilee Hills Cooperative Housing Society and directed the Jubilee Hills Cooperative Housing Society to handover the land to Journalists Cooperative Housing Society (hereinafter referred to as the society). Accordingly, Jubilee Hills Cooperative Housing Society executed sale deed in favour of the Society on 26.11.1992 and land was put in possession of the Society. The Society obtained tentative lay out from Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and formed lay out and allotted plots to its members. As required by law, certain open spaces are also earmarked for community purposes including development of parks and recreational facilities. Petitioners herein have purchased house plots from the members of the Society to whom plots were allotted. The respective particulars of plots and other details are tabulated hereunder:

3.2. According to petitioners, they have obtained building permissions and constructed houses in plots purchased by them. Abutting their plots, there is vacant Government land covered with boulders and bushes and habitated by snakes and reptiles. As there was threat to life, petitioners spent huge money to clean the bushes, constructed servant quarters and compound wall and they have been in occupation and possession of said vacant land ever since they purchased house plots from the members of the respondent society. G.O.Ms. No. 508 Revenue (Assn.I) Department dated 20.10.1995 was issued by Government inviting applications for regularisation of encroachments by way of dwelling houses on Government lands. Petitioners and others made applications on 5.12.1995 to the District Collector, Hyderabad district seeking regularisation of encroachments made by them in T.S No. 6, 7, 8 Ward No.9, Block D and T.S. No.1 Block-J, Ward No.9, Shaikpet village and mandal. Responding to said request the District Collector directed the Mandal Revenue Officer to enquire into the matter. The MRO conducted enquiry and submitted his report stating that the encroachments made by petitioners and others are unobjectionable, not required for any public purpose; that as per approved master plan the land use is specified for residential purposes and the land is vacant.

Based on the said report, the District Collector vide his letter da