( 1 ) ALL these writ applications involving common questions of law and fact 1 were taken up for hearing together and are being disposed of by this common judgment.

( 2 ) THE petitioners in all the cases are consumers of electrical energy having obtained electrical connection from the respondent-company but their electrical connection had been disconnected on diverse dates by the Officers of Loss Control Cell of C. E. S. C. Ltd. upon surprise inspections and having allegedly found that the petitioners have indulged in theft or pilferage of electrical energy.

( 3 ) IN some matters, affidavits-in-opposition have been filed by the C. E. S. C. Ltd. where in almost stereo type statements have been made that upon inspection the meter body of the meter installed in the premises of the consumers were found spurious and/or the seals of the service cut out were found missing or the seals on the meter body were found tampered.

( 4 ) IN almost all the cases the petitioners carry on business or trades and their grievance is that by reason of an arbitrary action on the part of the C. E. S. C. Ltd. and its officers in disconnecting the electrical energy they have suffered immen