(1.) AS common questions of fact and law are involved in these petitions, they all are heard together and disposed of by this common judgement.
(2.) THE petitioners in these petitions are land owners who have given their lands on lease to respondent IBP Company Limited (hereinafter referred to as the Respondent Oil Company ).
(3.) MR. Percy Kavina, learned Senior Advocate appearing for the petitioners submitted that in view of letter of comfort the petitioners are entitled to be considered as a special class being land owners and also in view of the promise given by the respondent company. According to him, once an agreement is entered into, the respondent authority cannot back out of the same in which case the principle of promissory estoppel will come into play.