S. NAINAR SUNDARAM, J.

( 1 ) ALL the three Special Civil Application can be disposed of by a common order. Though various prayers are raised, the moot question that arises for consideration as per the pleas put forth by the learned Counsel for the petitioners is as to whether the for a writ of mandamus directing the Respondent to recover the dues of the Petitioners as arrears of land revenue. petitioners could claim the status of Working Journalists and as such newspaper employees within the meaning of the Working Journalists And Other Newspaper employees (Conditions of Service) And Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 45 of 1955, hereinafter referred to as the Act. The status claimed by the petitioners is being disputed by the contesting respondents. The endeavour on the part of Mr. H. A. Raichura, learned Counsel for the petitioners is that the machinery under sec. 17 (2) of the Act must be set in motion even to decide this question. Section 17 as it stands today as a whole reads as follows :"17. Recovery of money due from an employer :- (1) Where any amount is due under this Act to a newspaper employee from an employer, the newspaper employer himself, or any person authorised by him in

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