JUDGMENT

[ W.P.(C)Nos.2613, 3881, 5403, 8363, 8967, 9979, 11487, 11501, 12254, 13587, 14100, 21568, 21911 & 21989 of 2014 & 16091 of 2015]

The captioned writ petitions are materially connected challenging the constitutional validity of the notification issued by the State Government dated 18.12.2013, amending the Kerala Chit Fund Rules, 2012, by substituting Appendix-II, and thereby increasing the Table of Fees. Therefore, I heard them together and propose to deliver this common judgment. Facts and figures contained in W.P.(C) No.2613 of 2014 are relied upon for disposal of the writ petitions, wherein the impugned notification is marked as Ext.P3(a).

2. Petitioners are companies registered under the Indian Companies Act, 1956, engaged in Chitty business as per the Chit Funds Act, 1982 (in short, 'the Act, 1982'). Pursuant to powers conferred under Sec.89 of Act, 1982, the Government of Kerala, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India formulated Ext.P1 Kerala Chit Fund Rules, 2012 (in short,'the Rules, 2012'), as per Government notification dated 04.06.2012. The 1st respondent is the registering authority of the 1st petitioner under the Central Act and the 2nd respondent is the