JUDGMENT

Sinha S.B.-These appeals involving identical questions of law and facts were taken up for hearing together and are being disposed of by this common judgment.

2. Civil Appeal Nos. 4774-76 of 1996 arise out of the judgments and orders dated 12.3.1993 and 18.3.1993 passed by the Gwalior Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Miscellaneous Petition Nos. 1654, 1727 and 1728 of 1991; wherein the legality/validity of three orders passed on 29.5.1991 by the Press and Registration Board purported to be in exercise of its jurisdiction under Section 8-C of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 (for short the Act ) were questioned by the Respondent No. 1 herein.

3. Civil Appeal Nos. 4777-78 of 1996 arise out of the judgment and order dated 29.6.1991 passed by the Gwalior Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court arising out of Misc. Appeal Nos. 60-61 of 1988.

4. Factual matrix of the matter, shortly stated is as under :

5. Ramesh Chander Agarwal s/o late Dwarka Prasad Agarwal, a partner of M/s. Dwarka Prasad Agarwal and Brothers allegedly upon taking advantage of his father s ill-health made an attempt to create a lease in relation to the right to publish Dainik Bhaskar from Bhopa