1. The petitioner in W.P. No. 3840 of 1999 has challenged the circular issued by the Special Commissioner and Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department in Na. Ka. No. 95206/98/R2 dated 27.1.99.

2. The petitioners in W.P. Nos. 11573 and 11617 of 1999 have also challenged the proceedings of the Special Commissioner and Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department in Na.ka. No. 8516/92/R2 dated 24.3.92 as amended by the circular in Na.Ka. No. 95206/98/R2 dated 27.1.99.

3. By consent of parties, all the writ petitions are taken up together for disposal. The brief facts leading to the filing of all the writ petitions may be stated as follows.

4. All the petitioners applied for allotment of houses belonging to the 2nd respondent namely Arulmighu Kapaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore on rental basis. Since the requests of the petitioners were not conceded in view of the circular of the 1st respondent dated 27.1.99, the present writ petitions have been filed challenging the said circular. It is the case of the petitioners that on 24.3.92, the 1st respondent issued circular containing guidelines for the purpose of leasing out the houses not