S.D.Agarwal, J. - (1.) These are six connected writ petitions arising out of the same order. Since common questions of fact and law arise in all these petitions and they relate to the same route, the same are being decided by a common Judgment.
(2.) The route in question is Manglaur Asafnagar-Jhabrera Ramnagar Deoband Bargaon Nanauta-Gangoh-Lakhnauti (hereinafter referred to as the route), By a notification dated 7-5-74 the Regional Transport Authority, Dehradun, invited applications for the grant of regular stage carriage permits on this route, The length of the route is about 83 kilometers. The Regional Transport Authority fixed the strength of the permits to be issued at 22. The result was that there were nine vacancies and only nine permits were to be granted, In all 279 applications were made for the grant of the permit including the present petitioners. The Regional Transport Authority, Dehradun, considered all the applications in the meeting held on 9th to 12th Oct., 1974. The order was however, finally delivered on 2-11-1974 granting one regular stage carriage permit to each of the respondents Nos. 3 to 11.
(3.) Twenty four applicants only filed appeals against the order of the Regional Transport Authority, All these appeals were disposed of by the State Transport Appellate Tribunal U. P. Lucknow by judgment dated 17th June, 1977. The judgment dated 17-6-1977 has now been impugned in all the above mentioned petitions.;