The petitions aforementioned are directed against the proceedings of the respondents, calling upon the petitioners and the other merchants to pay at Rs. 15/- per diem in respect of single stalls and at the rate of Rs. 30/-per diem in respect of double stalls of municipal market in the town of Connoor District, the Nilgiris. According to the petitioners, they were holding on lease either single stall or double stall out of the number of stalls owned by the respondents at Connoor and paying rent of Rs. 1.70 to Rs. 2.00 per day for a single stall and Rs. 3.40 to Rs. 5.00 for a double stall. The stalls, however, were sought to be reconstructed and accordingly the petitioners vacated their respective stalls to enable the respondents to demolish the old buildings. The old buildings were demolished accordingly, according to the petitioners, on the firm understanding that the respondents would give the stalls back to the concerned persons who were occupying them as soon as the reconstruction was over. After the reconstruction was completed, however, the respondents wanted to auction the stalls. Treating this as a violation of the undertaking seven merchants together filed a sui