Judgment

AYYANGER, J. : This appeal raises for consideration the constitutional validity of one paragraph of a notification issued by the State of Rajasthan under S. 15 of the Police Act (Central Act V of 1861) under which "the Harijan" and "Muslim" inhabitants of the villages, in which an additional police force was stationed, were exempted from the obligation to bear any portion of the cost of that force.

2. It is stated that the inhabitants of certain villages in the district of Jhunjhunu in the State of Rajasthan, harboured dacoits and receivers of stolen property, and were besides creating trouble between landlords and tenants as a result of which there were serious riots in the locality in the course of which some persons lost their lives. The State Government therefore took action under S. 15 of the Police Act. This Section provides :

"Quartering of additional police in disturbed or dangerous districts -

(1) It shall be lawful for the State Government, by proclamation to be notified in the official Gazettee, and in such other manner as the State Government shall direct, to declare that any area subject to its authority has been found to be in a disturbed or dangerous state, or t