(1.) The petitioners' case, in brief, is as follows:
(2.) The fifth respondent has filed a counter affidavit, contending as follows:
(3.) Heard; Smt. A Parvathy Menon, the learned counsel for the petitioners, Sri. T.C. Krishna, the learned Deputy Solicitor General of India, Smt. Vidya Kuriakose, the learned Government Pleader and Sri. Rajesh Sivaramankutty, the learned counsel for the fifth respondent.