( 1 ) BY a notice. (Annexure A) dated 26-10-1981, applications were invited for appointment of agents for the fair price shops in the 19 wards of Tikamgarh town. There was one such shop in each of the 19 wards. In pursuance of this notice, two shops were allotted to a consumer Co-operative Society and two other shops to the Co-operative marketing Society (respondent No. 3 ). The remaining 15 shops were allotted to private individuals including the 12 petitioners as they were not required by any Co-operative Society. The order of allotment in favour of the petitioners was made on 28-11-1981 and Annexure B is one such order. Admittedly, the Co-operative Societies, including respondent No. 3 had expressed in writing their unwillingness to take more than two shops each and it was for this reason that after allotting two shops each to the two Societies or in all four shops to the Co-operative Societies, the remaining 15 shops, which were not wanted by any-Co-operative Society, were allotted to private individuals. Agreements were executed by the private individuals, including the petitiners, as a result of the allotment made to them.

( 2 ) THE petitioners were running th