ALLADI KUPPUSWAMI, J.

( 1 ) THE petitioners in these Writ Petitions are merchants carrying on business in various parts of Andhra Pradesh. The main prayer in these Writ Petitions is to declare the Notification dated 21-1-1978 published in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette dated 23-2-1978 as null and void and to direct the concerned Market Committees not to collect market fees at the rate of 1% in respect of all notified commodities under Section 12 (1) of the Andhra Pradesh (Agricultural Produce and Livestock) Markets Act, 1966, (referred to in this judgment as the Act) read with Bye-law No. 24 (1) of the Bye-laws of the Market Committee.

( 2 ) UNDER Section 12 of the Act, the market committee shall levy fees on any notified agricultural produce, livestock or products of livestock purchased or sold in the notified market area at such rate, not exceeding one rupee, as may be specified in the Bye-laws for every hundred rupees of the aggregate amount for which the notified agricultural produce, livestock or products of livestock is purchased or sold, whether for cash or deferred payment or other valuable consideration. The bye-laws of all the market committees initially provided for the levy

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