Ramachandra Iyer, C. J.-

This appeal is filed against the judgment of Anantanarayanan, J., who confirmed the decree for damages passed against the President and certain members of the Sembanarkoil Panchayat. The respondent is a trader in that village in safety fuse for blasting gunpowder. He also manufactures and’ sells fireworks. The necessary licences for storing such goods and also for vending them had been obtained by him during the years 1950 to 1956. He applied for a renewal of the licence for the next year on 12th May, 1956. The Panchayat Board at first delayed passing any orders on the application; subsequently it totally rejected the application. At the same time, the Board passed a resolution at the instance of the President, viz., the first appellant herein, with whom the five other appellants joined, requesting the Collector to withhold the licence. That attempt succeeded in the first instance ; but, on appeal to the higher authorities, the respondent was able to obtain a renewal of the licence on 29th October,. 1956. It has now been found,-and that finding has not been challenged before us-that the appellants, although they purported to act in their official cap