JUDGMENT

Anil K. Narendran, J.

The petitioners, who are the licensees in occupation of the shop rooms in the shopping complex of Vaikom Devaswom under the management of the 1st respondent Travancore Devaswom Board, in the land comprised in Survey No.179/12 of Naduvile Village, Vaikom Taluk, have filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of certiorari to quash Exts.P15 to P21 notices dated 20.09.2023 issued by additional 4th respondent Assistant Devaswom Commissioner, Vaikom, whereby the petitioners are required to clear the arrears of licence fee in respect of their shop rooms, together with interest, within 15 days, failing which appropriate proceedings will be initiated against them. The petitioners have also sought for a writ of mandamus commanding the 1st respondent Board to conduct an auction of the shop rooms, as per clause 10 of the licence deed and permit them to participate in the auction and match the higher offer to renew the licence.

2. The documents marked as Exts.P1 to P6 are the licence deeds entered into between petitioners 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8 and the 1st respondent Board. The licence period of one year in the respective li