1. These rules arise out of applications under Art.226 of the Constitution and can be disposed of by one common judgment.

2. Rule No. 138 of 1959 arises out of an application by one Sri Khagendra Nath Das who was granted a permit by the Regional Transport Authority, Gauhati to ply his bus on the Narth - Gauhati - Sarthebari - Barpeta route in the year 1956. From time to time temporary permits were granted to the petitioner along with five others on the said route on the ground that the State Government was contemplating to nationalise the route. This renewal of the temporary permits continued after every four months till 1959 when it was given out by the State Government that they no longer intended to nationalise the route. It was decided that the number of the permits be increased from six to sixteen on this route.
The number was however reduced to twelve. In its meeting held from 30th July to 3rd August 1959 the Regional Transport Authority, Gauhati granted permits to the petitioner and his five associates who had been in the past getting temporary permits in respect of this route and six more permits were granted to various persons out of the new applicants. Various persons who w