1. This is an application under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, inter alia, praying for an order: –

"(a) A declaration that the provisions of Regulation 8 of the Calcutta Port Trust (Licensing of Stevedores) Regulations, 1987 is ultra vires the Constitution of India and thus illegal, invalid and void.

(b) A writ of and/or order and/or direction in the nature of Mandamus commanding and directing the respondents and each of them, their servants and/or agents to forthwith, revoke, recall and/ or cancel the said impugned order passed by he respondent no. 2 being Annexure-E hereof and to refrain from giving effect thereto or from taking any steps in terms thereof or thereunder and to act in accordance with law.

(c) A writ of and/or order and/or direction in the nature of certiorari directing the respondents and each of them, their servants and/or agents to forthwith transmit and/or certify the records relating to the said impugned order being Annexure-E hereof and of all purported proceeding initiated and/or steps taken on the basis thereof or thereunder so that the same may be quashed and/or set aside and conscionable justice might be rendered.

(d) A writ of and/or order and/or direction in the nature of Prohibition prohibiting the respondents from giving effect to or further effect to or taking any steps or further steps in terms of or pursuant to the said impugned order passed by the respondents no. 2, being Annexure-E hereof.

(e) An appropriate writ, order or direction do issue for production of all relevant records and for protection of all the rights of the petitioners and for granting the petitioners such relief as in the circumstance of the case shall be just and proper.

(f) Injunction restraining the respondents from giving effect to or further effect to or taking any steps or further steps in terms of or pursuant to the said impugned order passed by the respondent no. 2 being Annexure-E hereof till the disposal of this application."

2. The petitioner no. 1 case is that the petitioner no. 1 carries on business of Stevedores, inter alia, at the Port of Calcutta since 1851. The said company has branches all over the country. The further case of the petitioners are that the loading and discharge of cargo to and from vessels in the Port of Calcutta are done through combined operation of Stevedores and the Calcutta Port Trust. The workers suddenly went on wild cat strike on and from 23.10.1992, which has completely stalled all work at the Calcutta Port since 23.10.1992.

3. On 22.10.1992, vessel M.V. Eagle Breeze arrived at the port of Calcutta carrying about 400 containers and the petitioner company was engaged for doing stevedoring work. 23.10.1992, when the representatives of the petitioners went to submit a requisition for booking of registered workers working in second and third shifts on 23.10.1992, on the said vessel M.V. Eagle Breeze, they were prevented by the workers and their associates from entering the Call Stand where booking are taken and made. However, ultimately, the petitioner succeeded in booking the registered employees/workers for the third shift on 23.10.1992 and first shift on 24.10.1992. The Chief Clerk or the Senior Supervisor was not available in view of the strike and in view of that and inspite of the best efforts and desire the petitioners were unable to carry out the stevedoring work on the vessel M.V. Eagle Breeze. The further case of the petitioners is that no other Stevedores was also able to carry out any stevedoring work at the Calcutta Port since the second shift on 23.10.1992. On 24.10.1992, at about 2 A.M. the petitioner was surprised to receive a notice dated 23.10.1992. The said notice was replied to by the petitioners letter dated 24.10.1992 and the reply was handed over by Sri. A.K. Sen an employee of the petitioner company to the respondent no. 4 personally at 3:30 P.M.

4. On 24.10.1992 at about 4:30 P.M an employee of the petitioner company found a sealed envelope in the Le