GOPAL RAO EKBOTE, J.

( 1 ) THESE five Writ Petitions raise a common question of law and can, therefore, be conveniently disposed of by one common judgment.

( 2 ) THEY arise in the following circumstances. The petitioners are the owners of contract carriages known as auto-rickshaws. They were granted permits with some conditions attached to the same. These conditions however did not include any condition to have a taxi-meter to the auto-rickshaw. At the time of issuing a fitness certificate, the Secretary to the Regional Transport Authority insisted that the petitioners should have taxi-meters fixed to their auto-rickshaws and stated that, without such taxi-meters, the fitness certificate will not be issued. Since this notice was given in pursuance of the resolution passed by the State Transport Authority through the Regional Transport Authority, the petitioners did not consider it worthwhile to carry the matter in appeal. The contention of the petitioners therefore, is that, under the provision of law and the rules, the Secretary to the Regional Transport Authority cannot insist on having a taxi-meter to an auto-rickshaw before issuing any fitness certificate and, since the Secretar

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