2. The petitioners contend that they are owners and possessors of agricultural dry land in Sy.Nos.539, 542, 543 and 544 of an extent of Ac.40.24 guntas situated at the said village, which they have inherited from Late A.V. Ranga Rao, who is their ancestor; that the respondents without initiating any proceedings under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 or any other law, laid a road in the above mentioned lands of width of 5 metres, length about 200 metres to an extent of about Ac.4.00gts, apart from cutting down neem trees and damaged fencing worth Rs.35,000/- illegally and without issuing any prior notice to the petitioners. They contend that this is arbitrary, illegal and is violative of Art. 300-A of Constitution of India. They placed on record a certificate issued by the Village Administrative Officer, Ogode Village stating that a road was formed through that land. The petitioners also contend that they have issued a legal notice dt.16.05.1997 to respondent Nos.3 and 4 seeking compensation to which a reply legal notice dt.28.05.1997 was issued by 3rd respondent’s counsel stating that several representations were received to lay a road from Kuntala Chelaka, in which the petitioners have ownership and possession; and that it was agreed to widen the road from the house sites of certain Dhobi caste people, that certain villagers lands were utilized for laying the road and not those of the petitioners;
