( 1 ) THESE five second appeals arise out of suits filed by dealers in food grains of Nellore District, hereinafter called the dealers, against the State of Andhra represented by the District Collector, Nellore, for recovery of certain amounts due to them. These five suits and two others were disposed of by a common judgment by the District/munsif of Kanigiri, who decreed all the suits. The appeals against his decision preferred by the State of Andhra were also disposed of by a single judgment of the Subordinate Judge of Kavali, who reversed the decision of the that Court, and dismissed the suits. These second appeals are preferred by the dealers against that judgment.

( 2 ) THE facts briefly are as follows: The appellants-plaintiffs were appointed as wholesalers for Kanigiri Taluq under the scheme of State Trading in Food Grains, adopted by the State of Madras in exercise of the powers conferred on it under the Essential Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act (XXIV of 1946), hereinafter called "the Act", in order to make up the shortage of food grains experienced at that time and to ensure proper distribution of the available stocks. In September, 1952, the District Colle