On the 1st November, 1951, the petitioner applied to the Commissioner of Police, Madras City, for a licence to conduct the business in auction sale of pledged jewels, etc., with the mortgagees under the name and style of Bharat and Co., at premises No. 69, Perumal Mudali Street, Sowcarpet, Madras. In that application he stated that he is a landlord paying property tax of Rs. 1,147-14-0, to the Corporation of Madras. A reply was sent by the Commissioner on 19th December, 1951, stating that permission was refused as the premises was reported to be unsuitable. Again the petitioner filed another application wherein he stated that the premises is situated in a very busy locality which is in the heart and centre of the business in the city and is an ideal place for conducting transactions of the nature for which permission was asked for. Under the circumstances he prayed that the order refusing approval may be reviewed. The reply to this letter dated 9th April, 1952, is as follows:

“Premises No. 69, Perumal Mudali Street, Sowcarpet, Madras, where auction sale of pledges is proposed to be held is found to be unsuitable for the purpose as the space available is inadequate. It is situ