A.R. Lakshmanan, g. C.J.

Heard Mr. A. Inees, Mr. P. Ravindran, Mr. P. Gopalakrishna Menon, Mr. K. Jayakumar, Senior Government Pleader, Mr. S.V. Balakrishna Iyer and K.S. Madhusoodanan for the respective parties. These appeals were filed against the judgment of the learned single judge of this Court in O.P. No. 3849 of 1993 dated 7.7.1999. Writ Appeal No. 1554 of 1999 was filed by the Malappuram District Private Bus Operators Association and another. Writ

Appeal No. 1646 of 1999 was preferred by the Trichur Distilct Private Bus Operators' Association represented by its General Secretary. Writ Appeal No. 1647 of 1999 was filed by the Kerala State Private Bus Operators Federation. Writ Appeal No. 1675 of 1999 was filed by the State of Kerala represented by the District Collector, Malappuram and the Regional Transport Officer, Malappuram.

3. The Original Petition was filed by the appellant in Writ Appeal No. 1554 of 1999 against the order in O.P. No. 33 of 1992 passed by the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Malappuram. The said petition was filed by a bus passenger and Secretary of the bus passengers' association of Aliparamba Panchayat. According to the complainant, the co