JUDGMENT

A.M. Kapadia, J. - In this batch of 11 petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution, petitioners against whom First Information Reports have been registered at various police stations of different Districts of State of Gujarat, details of which are shown below in this judgment, for alleged commission of offences mainly under Sections 295-A, 505, 120-B and 114 of IPC, seek to challenge the registration of the said FIRs and have prayed to quash and set aside the said FIRs as also the investigation pursuant thereto, by issuing appropriate writ, order or direction to respondent No. 3, State of Gujarat and its subordinate officers.

2. Common questions of law and facts are involved in this batch of peti-tions and FIRs which are sought to be quashed are filed for alleged commission of similar offences in all the FIRs by disciples of Swadhyaya Group headed by late Shri Pandurang Shastri Athavle. Further, the petitioners are almost common in all the petitions and, there-fore, with the consent of the learned advocates appearing for the parties, all the petitions are heard together and decided by this common judgment.

3. In this batch of petitions, 11 FIRs are filed by