Heard the learned counsels appearing for the parties concerned.

2. Since the issues involved in the above writ petitions have arisen out of the same facts and circumstances, a common order is passed. W.P.No.1170 of 2002:

3. With regard to W.P.No.1170 of 2002, it is submitted by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners that Mr.K.Selvaraj (hereinafter referred to as the deceased petitioner in W.P.No.1170 of 2002), who was the original petitioner in the present writ petition had died, on 29. 2002. The present petitioners, who are the legal representatives of the deceased petitioner, have been brought on record by an order of this Court, dated 4. 2003. The deceased petitioner was a diabetic patient from the year 1980. He had undergone renal transplant during the year 1990. Due to diabetes, he had lost his vision in the right eye, completely and had diminished vision in his left eye. Thus, he was 60% handicapped. The deceased petitioner has been under regular treatment at Sankara Netharalaya Eye Hospital, Chennai. While so, he had come across an advertisement in the newspaper, dated 6. 1998, inviting applications for L.P.G. Distributorship.

4. It has been f