( 1 ) THIS order shall also dispose of Misc. Petitions Nos. 741, 758, 759, 763, 768, 771, 774, 783,787, 796, 797, 800, 802, 803, 810, 813, 817, 831, 833, 837, 840, 844, 846, 847, 848, 858 and 871 all of 1980 and Misc Petitions Nos. 1, 12, 16, 38, 91, 105, 166, 169, 202, 322, 339 and 362 all of 1981.

( 2 ) PETITIONER No. 1 in M. P. No. 723 of 1980 is Madhya Pradesh Ration Vikreta sangh, a registered society representing the interest of ration shop holders at the State level in Madhya Pradesh. The other petitioners in this petition and other petitions are ration shop holders or their societies or associations at different levels. Ration shop holders are retail dealers appointed under Clause 3 of the Madhya Pradesh Foodstuffs (Distribution) Control Order. 1960, hereinafter referred to as the 1960 Control Order, for running ration shops set up by the State Government under a Government Scheme.

( 3 ) THE 1960 Control Order was made by the State Government under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act. 1955. in the exercise of its delegated power under Section 5 of the Act. Clause 2 (a) defined "appointed retailer" to mean a retail dealer appointed under Clause 3 in