( 1 ) THE petitioners, who are four in number, are Gold and Silver merchants. They are carrying on their business of gold and silver under proper and valid licences obtained from the authorities concerned in Kamareddy of Nizamabad District. While so, it is their case that the respondents-police authorities are interfering with their lawful business and summoning them to the police station on the alleged ground that the petitioners are indulging in purchase of stolen property. The petitioners state that on the representation made by the Gold and Silver Merchants Association about police excesses and harassment of gold merchants and goldsmiths, the government of Andhra Pradesh in consultation with the Police director and Inspector General, to protect the interests of the gold and silver merchants and goldsmiths, issued orders in Memorandum no. 3341/police-B/85-86, dated 08. 10. 1985, prescribing the procedure to be followed in dealing with theft and recovery of gold and silver merchants. But the respondents-police authorities, ignoring the orders issued by the Government in the aforementioned memorandum, are arresting the petitioners without there being any complain