I.D.Dua, J.

1. These writ petitions (Civil Writs Nos. 1353, 1406, 1501, 1615 and 1826 of 1963) raise the same question of law and are, therefore, being disposed of by one judgment.

2. In Civil Writ No.1353 of 1963, Shri Mukhtiar Cahnd, Petitioner No. 1 claims to be an ordinary resident of Malout Mandi, District Ferozepore and is by profession a Tolla (weighman) being also a member of the Tolla Mazdoor Union, Malout Mandi (petitioner No. 2 ). He has been earning his livelihood by his profession for the last 8 years. Weighing by hand-scale, according to his allegations, requires a special kind of skill and adeptness which he has been working as a weighmen. The Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act of 1989 (hereinafter called the 1939 Act) "provided for taking out a licensee for carrying out an occupation of a weighman and the petitioner accordingly took out such licence which has been renewed every year every since.

The petitioner has been carrying out his profession as a weighmen with the aid of handscales (Takri). The remuneration fixed by the Market Committee under the 1939 Act for the petitioner No. 1 and for 2 paledars who assisted him in weighing was fixed at 81/2 ann