( 1 ) THE order passed in this petition shall also govern the disposal of the connected Miscellaneous Petition No. 252 of 1984 (M/s. Bapulal Kesharimal and Company v. Regional Transport Authority, Ujjain and another), No. 878 of 84 (M/s. Akhtari Begum and Sons and another v. Regional Transport Authority, Ujjain and another), No. 3469 of 1984 (Vijay Motor Transport Co. v. State of Madhya Pradesh and another), No. 725 of 1983 (Ramesh Chand v. Regional Transport Authority, Indore and another), No. 1599 of 1985 (Ramprasad Purohit and another v. State of M. P. and another), and No. 3195 of 85 (M. P. State Road Transport Corporation through its Managing Director v. State of Madhya Pradesh and another ).

( 2 ) THESE petitions are under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India.

( 3 ) THE petitioners who are bus operators, are seeking to quash the notifications issued by the various Regional Transport Authorities, wherein reservation of bus routes for Scheduled Castes and Schedules Tribes has been notified, on the ground of discrimination. They have further sought that Rules 78-A and 78-B of the Motor Vehicles Rules 1977 (hereinafter referred to as the 'rules') in thi