I.A. Ansari, J.

1. Both these writ petitions involve substantially the same parties, almost identical facts and these two writ petitions have been heard, on the request of the learned Counsel for the parties, together and are, therefore, disposed of by this common judgment and order.

Case of the petitioners in WP(C) Nos. 1653/2003 and 4889/2004

2. The petitioner, namely, Bus Parichalana Samiti is an association of the bus owners of the various districts in Assam, including the district of Barpeta. The petitioner is a registered society under the Societies Registration Act. The members of the petitioner-Association ply their buses throughout the district of Barpeta and beyond and while so plying their buses, the members of the petitioner-Association are required to take their vehicles through the area of Barpeta Road Municipal Board. The members of the petitioner-Association have been plying their buses since the days of independence and much before Barpeta Town Committee was established, in the year 1961, under the provision of Assam Municipal Act, 1956. Barpeta Road Municipal Board (in short, 'the respondent-Board') replaced Barpeta Town Committee in the year 1976. The respon