( 1 ) ). WHAT is challenged in these two petitions which are filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, are two orders, both dated November 23, 2001 and issued by the Director (Sugar), Gujarat State, Gandhinagar, removing the petitioners as Directors of the Vadodara District Co-operative Sugarcane Growers Union Limited and Sardar Cooperative Sugar Industries Limited (the Societies for short) and appointing respondent Nos. 4 to 15 as Directors of the Societies as per bye-laws No. 21 (2) (A) and 8 (B) (1) of both the respective Societies.

( 2 ) AS both these petitions involve determination of common questions of facts and law, by the consent of the learned advocates appearing for the parties, the matters are taken up for final hearing and I propose to dispose them of by this common judgment.

( 3 ) IN order to appreciate the controversy between the parties, it would be advantageous to refer to the facts stated in Special Civil Application No. 11098 of 2001.

( 4 ) THE averments made and the grounds set out in the petition manifest that the petitioners were the Board of Directors of the Society which is registered on January 6, 1990 under the provisions of th