Writ applications under Article 226 must be filed separately when addressing distinct claims, even if common legal questions arise.

1. This is a joint application by three petitioners under Art.226 of the Constitution to declare that the order passed by the District Magistrate dated 25-3-1957 authorising the seizure of the two India - Pakistan Passports dated 14-11-1952 and 15-1-1957 belonging to petitioners 2 and 3 and that the seizure of the India - Pakistan Passport dated 26-3-1955 of petitioner No.1 by the Officer - in - charge of Khowai Check Post on 22-4-1954 are illegal, ultra vires, without jurisdiction and void and further to declare that the order of the District Magistrate cancelling the three aforesaid Passports of the petitioners in a letter dated 19-6-1957 written by Officer - in - charge, Passport section to the Tripura Administration is also illegal, ultra vires, unconstitutional and void. It is prayed that a Writ of Mandamus or Certiorari be issued directing the Union Territory of Tripura and the District Magistrate oi Tripura not to give effect to the said orders and to restore the said three Passports of the petitioners.

2. The respondents have taken up a preliminary objection that a joint petition by the three petitioners in respect of the three separate Passports issued to them on three separate dates for the issue of a single Writ of Mandamus to restore the said three Passports to them will not lie and that on that one ground alone this application should fail. This is an important question relating to procedure in the matter of the filing of Writ applications and it has to be decided first. The facts relating to this preliminary objection may therefore be stated.

3. The petitioners are three merchants at Khowai carrying on separate business transporting raw materials from the said place to various places via Pakistan. The town of Khowai is situated on the eastern bank of the Khowai river which is the boundary at that place between India and Pakistan. The petitioners have often to go to the Balla Railway station on the west bank of the river in Pakistan Territory for their business for the said purpose. They applied for and obtained India - Pakistan Pass - ports. The Passport of petitioner No.1 is B 263364 dated 26-3-55, of petitioner No.2 B 000187 dated 14-11-51 and of petitioner No.3, H 245371 dated 21-10-1952. They were each valid for a period of five years. The period in the case of petitioners two and three had expired in 1957 long before their petition was filed, while the period in the case of petitioner No.1 expired during ;he pendency of this petition. They also obtained what are known as E Category Visas which permit unlimited number of journeys to and from Pakistan during a period of one year from the date of issue of the Visas. Such Visas have to be issued by the Pakistan authorities on the recommendation of the District Magistrate.

4. Two months after the Visa was granted to petitioner No.1 the Officer - in - charge of Khowai Check Post seized the Passport of the petitioner No.1 on 22-4-57 and granted him a receipt for the same (Annexure - A). Again on 27-4-57 the Ofiicer - in - charge of Khowai Check Post sent letters (Annexures - B and C) to petitioners 2 and 3 to hand over their Passport within 24 hours and later on 9-5-57 he seized the said two Passports stating in the seizure list (Annexure - D) that he did so as per order of the Inspector, Passport, under the authority of the District Magistrate in his letter dated 25-3-1957.

5. Thereafter the petitioners sent three separate petitions on 9-5-57 to the District Magistrate informing him of the seizure and of the difficulties they were facing and for the retu