JUDGMENT

S.N. Variava, J.-These Appeals are against a Judgment dated 2nd April, 1998.

2. Briefly stated the facts are as follows :

The Appellants purchase raw cashew nut and after subjecting the same to process of manufacture extract cashew kernel. The cashew kernel is then sold by them all over India as well as in International markets. Both cashew nut and cashew kernel are Notified Agricultural Produce under the Schedule to the Karnataka Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1966 (hereinafter called the said Act). The Appellants have licences under the said Act as Importers, Traders, Exporters and Producers from the Market Committee. The Appellants are paying market fee as per the provisions of Section 65(2A) when they purchase cashew nut.

3. The Market Committee issued Notices to the Appellants directing them to collect market fee from their buyers and pay the same to the Committee in respect of transactions of sales of cashew kernel. These Notices were issued under the provisions of Section 65(2A)(iii) of the said Act.

4. The Appellants filed a Writ Petition in the High Court of Kerala praying for declaration that they were "Producers" of cashew kernel and, therefore, wer