Judgment

DAS GUPTA, J. : This appeal by special leave raises a question of the correct interpretation of some words in S. 18A (1) (b) of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951. The Central Government made an order under S. 15 of that Act appointing a committee of three persons for the purpose of making full and complete investigation into the circumstances of the case as it was of opinion that there had been or was likely to be a substantial fall in the volume of production in respect of cotton textile manufactured in the industrial undertaking known as Hathisingh Manufacturing Company Ltd., Ahmedabad, for which having regard to the economic conditions prevailing there was no justification. After the committee made its report the Central Government being of opinion thereupon that this industrial undertaking was being managed in a manner highly detrimental to public interest made an order under S. 18A of the Act authorising Ambalal Shah (the first appellant before us) to take over the management of the whole of the said undertaking.

2. Against this order the industrial undertaking and its proprietor-who are the two respondents before us-filed a petition in the Gujarat H