( 1 ) THIS writ petition was filed for a mandamus directing respondent No. 1 the Nagar Nigam, Meerut not to settle the contract in respect of advertisement hoardings in favour of respondent No. 2 and to restrain the respondents from interfering with the possession of the petitioners over the hoarding sites.

( 2 ) WE have heard learned Counsel for the parties. It has been alleged in paragraph 2 of the petition that the petitioners are engaged in the business of advertising by fixing hoardings on the road-sides within the municipal limits of the Nagar Nigam, Meerut. In paragraph 3 of the petition it is alleged that the Nagar mahapalika (now known as nagar Nigam) has framed Rules for setting such contracts. True copy of the Rules is annexed as Annexure-1 to the petition.

( 3 ) THE aforesaid Rules do not prescribe the manner in which the hoardings are to be let out. The petitioners have erected their own hoarding on the road-sides within the Meerut city and and they are regularly depositing tax in according with the aforesaid Rules vide annexure-2 to the petition. In paragraph 7 of the petition it is alleged that a tender notice was published in the daily newspaper dainik