Hon’ble Mrs. Sangeeta Chandra, J.—Similar questions of law having arisen in these two writ petitions, they are therefore being considered by this Court together.

2. Heard learned counsel for petitioners, Mr. Arvind Kumar Singh, Shri Krishnaji Khare and learned Standing Counsel and Shri S.M. Iqbal Hasan, learned Advocate who appeared to assist this Court on his own, as according to the counsel for the parties, the question involved in the aforesaid two writ petitions are substantial and needs to be decided finally to avoid spate of litigation in this Court on similar questions.

3. In Writ - C No. 58035 of 2017 petitioner Smt. Meena Devi has challenged the order dated 17.10.2017 passed by Sub Divisional Officer, Mehdawal, District Sant Kabir Nagar cancelling fair price shop licence of the petitioner, and in Writ - C No. 3583 of 2018 the petitioner Gurudeen has challenged the order dated 3.11.2017 passed by the Sub Divisional Officer, Tehsil - Meja, District Allahabad cancelling the fair price shop licence of the petitioner.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioners have argued that the petitioners were running their fair price shops in the respective villages since long but due