Judgment GITA MITTAL, J(Oral) 1. This bunch of writ petitions have been filed by the petitioners who have claimed that they were granted licences to work as iron patti packers at different railway stations at Delhi. The petitioners have been holding licences for different periods of almost 25 years since 1982 which have been renewed from time to time. Without any complaint or notice being issued to the petitioners, these licences were terminated by a letter dated 23rd August, 2007 issued by the respondents. This termination has been challenged by all the petitioners on the ground of violation of principles of natural justice, arbitrariness and illegality. 2. In the counter affidavits which have been filed, the respondents have urged that the termination was necessitated inasmuch as certain complaints were received in respect of illegal activities on the part of these petitioners. An allegation has been made that several touts were operating hand in glove with the licenced patti holders. 3. On a consideration of the submissions made before this court, I find that the admitted position is that there has been no communication of any illegal activities or misbehaviour to the petitioners which is the basis of these writ petitions. 4. Mr. Rakesh Tiku, learned counsel for the respondent has urged that the respondents have taken a decision to disband the practice of iron patti packers which is in vogue only at the New Delhi and Nizamuddin railway stations. This is disputed on behalf of the petitioners who have relied on photographs to show that patti packing is still being undertaken at these railway stations. 5. Be that as it may, it is a fact that the petitioners have been holding licences for a period of over 25 years. Their licences have been terminated on grounds which were never been communicated to them. Certainly, such termination is not sustainable being violative of principles of natural justice and settled principles of law. No policy has been placed before this court in support of the contention that these licences are being discontinued. 6. The petitioners have placed reliance on representations dated -5- 24th and 29th August, 2007 pointing out several grounds in support of the contention that they are entitled to continue with the same. The respondents have failed to consider these grounds. 7 Consequently, these writ petitions deserve to be allowed. 6. The petitioners have placed reliance on representations dated -5- 24th and 29th August, 2007 pointing out several grounds in support of the contention that they are entitled to continue with the same. The respondents have failed to consider these grounds. 7 Consequently, these writ petitions deserve to be allowed. The orders dated 23rd August, 2007 in all the writ petitions are hereby set aside and quashed. The respondents shall grant a hearing to the petitioners or their duly authorized representatives in support of the representations dated 24th and 29th August, 2007. The date, time and place of hearing shall be communicated to the petitioners through learned counsel representing them in this court within a period of two weeks from today. The respondents shall consider the representations of the petitioners and pass a reasoned and speaking order which shall be communicated to the counsel for the petitioners, petitioners as well as their authorized representatives. Needless to say, if the petitioners are still aggrieved by the orders which are passed, it shall be open for them to assail the same by way of appropriate legal proceedings. 7. Learned counsel for the petitioners has made a grievance that despite the stand taken by the respondents in these writ petitions, illegal iron patti packing is still going on in the railway stations with the connivance of the officials of the railway stations. The respondents shall ensure that such practice, if illegal, is stopped forthwith. These writ petitions and the applications mentioned above are hereby disposed of in the above terms. Dasti to counsel for the parties.