COMMON ORDER

All these writ petitions arise out of proceedings initiated under Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Act, 1961 (Tamil Nadu Act 58 of 1961). Medai Dhalavai Family had owned 627.25 standard acres of land in Ariyakulam and Maruthur Villages in Tirunelveli District. The lands stood in the name of Seevalaperi Chatram. The Authorized Officer (Land Reforms), Tirunelveli applying the statutory mandate set out in Section 6 of the Act notified that the Seevalaperi Chatram Trust held 17.5% in the overall land while the huqdaars of the land held 82.5% of the land. It was declared that 93.074 standard acres held by the trust was found to be surplus. Statement under Section 12 of the Act was published in Tamil Nadu Gazettee dated 10.12.1986. Notification under Section 18(1) of the Act was published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette dated 11.02.1987. It was declared that 93.074 standard acres equivalent to 323.78 ordinary acres held by Seevalaperi Trust were notified as surplus. The Assistant Commissioner (Land Reforms), Tirunelveli who was the assigning authority initiated proceedings under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Disposal of Surplus Lands