C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy, J.

1. An issue which is short but of considerable importance arises for adjudication in this writ petition. What precisely is the scope of enquiry before the District Legal Services Authority in the matter of legal aid exempting from payment of Court fee available under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 (for short, 'the Act') and the Central and State Rules and Regulations made thereunder is that issue.

2. The facts giving rise to the filing of this writ petition are briefly set out hereunder:

"Respondent Nos. 4 to 24 (hereinafter referred to as 'the plaintiffs') filed a suit against five individuals and the petitioner - construction company impleaded as defendant No. 6, for declaration that they are absolute owners of various extents of properties situated in Sy. Nos. 10/1, 10/2, 10/3, 10/4, 18/5 of China Waltair, Visakhapatnam. It is their pleaded case that one Vasupalli Appanna was their ancestor, who has acquired Acs. 4.00 under registered sale deed dt. 27.10.1945 from one Adidam Venkata Rama Rao and others and he has also succeeded to an extent of Ac.5.57 cents from his ancestors. That during his lifetime, Vasupalli Appanna enjoyed the property with absolute rights and in recognition of his right and possession, his name was shown as owner in the revenue records in respect of Ac.0.35 cents in Sy. No. 10/1, Ac.0.21 cents in Sy. No. 10/2, Ac.0.21 in Sy. No. 10/3, Ac.2.74 cents in Sy. No. 10/4, and Acs. 2.06 cents in Sy. No. 18/5. In support of this averment, the plaintiffs have filed registration extract of the sale deed of the year 1945 and SFA copy showing the said Appanna as the owner. The plaintiffs further pleaded that out of Acs. 5.57 cents, Vasupalli Appanna gifted an extent of Ac.1.50 cents to his brother Vasupalli Tatayya under registered gift settlement deed dt. 6.1.1956, and that said Tatayya, in turn sold away the said property to Perla Arrenna, S/o. Rajappa and another, under registered sale deed dt. 02.6.1961. That after the sale, Vasupalli Appanna continued to own and possess Ac.4.07 cents, and that he died leaving behind him his two sons, namely, Durgayya and Satteyya on whom the extent of Ac.4.07 cents devolved as per the Hindu Succession and Survivorship. That plaintiff Nos. 1 to 3 are the sons and plaintiff Nos. 4 to 7 are daughters of Vasupalli Durgayya; plaintiff Nos. 8 and 9 are sons of plaintiff No. 1, plaintiff No. 10 is son of plaintiff No. 2 and plaintiff Nos. 11 to 13 are sons of plaintiff No. 3. Following the death of Durgayya, these plaintiffs succeeded to his estate. That Satteyya, another son of Vasupalli Appanna, died on 11.07.1999 leaving behind him, his wife - plaintiff No. 14, two sons, plaintiff Nos. 15 and 16, and two daughters, plaintiff Nos. 17 and 18, and that plaintiff Nos. 19 and 20 are sons of plaintiff No. 15 and plaintiff No. 21 is son of plaintiff No. 16. It was accordingly pleaded that all the twenty one plaintiffs are the legal representatives of Vasupalli Durgayya and Satteyya, who succeeded to the estate of the original ancestor Vasupall Appanna. It was the further pleaded case of the plaintiffs that out of total extent of Ac.4.07 cents, the legal heirs of Vasupalli Appanna sold away an extent of Ac.0.85 cents in Sy. No. 10/4A to defendant Nos. 1 to 4 under Registered Sale Agreement-cum-General Power of Attorney dt. 18.07.1997 and that except this land, the legal heirs of the original owner did not sell any other land and that therefore for the remaining property all the plaintiffs are the absolute owners."

3. It was further averred that at the time of filing of the suit, the plaintiffs owned an extent of Ac.0.35 cents in Sy. No. 10/1, an extent of Ac.0.21 in Sy. No. 10/2, an extent of Ac.0.21 in Sy. No. 10/3 and an extent of Ac.2.06 cents in Sy. No. 18/5. The plaintiffs alleged that while entering into the Registered Sale Agreement-cum-General Power of Attorney on 18.07.1997, defendant Nos. 1 to 4, taking advantage of the innocence and ill