S. Ravindra Bhat, J.

1. In all these writ proceedings, under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, common questions of fact and law arise for consideration. They were, with consent of parties heard together. All the petitioners are licenses of the respondents. They are operating public call offices (PCOs) in one or the other railway platforms/spaces under the control of the second respondent Northern Railways. They are aggrieved by revision of terms of the licenses to the extent that the second respondent has demanded enhancement of commission to up to 102% and more, in comparison with the existing commission. They seek suitable directions that such demands should not be enforced.

2. All the petitioners were allotted/awarded licenses to operate PCOs in premises under the control of the second respondent specifically in railway platforms etc. The conditions of license, among others, stipulated payment of license fee on annual basis with reference to the area occupied. That was made subject to revision/enhancement from time to time. The petitioners were chosen as licensees as a measure of rehabilitation; in many cases these were on compassionate basis. In some cases the a