1. Heard Mr. P.K.Dhakephalkar, learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner and Mr.S.D.Rairikar, learned AGP for respondents No. 1 to 3, Mr.Amit Jagoo, learned Counsel for respondent No.4 and Ms.Nishigandha M.Gurav, learned Counsel for respondent No.5 at length. Rule. The learned Counsel for the respective respondents waive service. At the request and by consent of the learned Counsel appearing for the parties, rule is made returnable forthwith and the petition is taken up for final hearing.

2. By this petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, the petitioners have challenged i) the judgment and order dated 14/07/2008 rejecting the application made by the petitioners for leave to defend ii) the order dated 14/07/2008 rejecting the Intervenor's Appellantlication dated 11/06/2008 filed by one Mr.Nirav Modi and iii) the judgment and order dated 14/07/2008 passed by the Competent Authority (Rent Act) Konkan Division, Mumbai (for short 'the Competent Authority') in Case No. 7 of 2008 allowing the application made by the respondents No. 4 & 5 under section 24 of the Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999 (for short 'Maharashtra Rent Act'). The petitioners were directed