ORDER

These Special Leave Petition are directed against an interim order passed by a Division Bench of the Madras High Court on 18th March, 1997. Earlier, an order was passed on 2nd July, 1996 in which after an elaborate examination of facts and law, certain interim directions were given by the learned Single Judge.

2. On an application moved by the Union of India, some of the observations in that judgment of the Single Judge in O.A. Nos. 77 and 78 of 1996 in C.S. No. 67 of 1996 and O.A. Nos. 86 and 87 of 1996 in C.S. No. 73 of 1996 were expunged by the Appeal Court on 18th March, 1997.

3. The Madras Refineries Limited (MRL) preferred an appeal against the order of the Single Judge. The Appeal Court discussed the facts in great depth and thought fit to order a thorough investigation and a detailed probe into transferring of certain lands in favour of a Company which was promoted by Southern Petro Chemical Industries Corporation Limited (SCL). After examination of the facts of the case at great length, the Appeal Court ultimately passed the following order:

"Considering all these aspects and the conduct of the parties, we are convinced that MRL has made out a prima facie case in C.A. No