Judgment

WANCHOO, J. : These two writ petitions which were heard along with Purushothaman Nambudiri v. State of Kerala (W. P. No.105 of 1961)* raise the constitutionality of the Kerala Agrarian Relations Act. No. IV of 1961 (hereinafter referred to as the Act). The petitioners come from that part of the State of Kerala which was formerly in the South Canara district of the State of Madras and came to the State of Kerala by the States Re-organisation Act of 1956. Their lands are situate in Hosdrug and Kasargod Taluks which have now been made part of the Cannanore District in the State of Kerala. They hold large areas of lands, the major part of which is held by them as ryotwari pattadars, according to the ryotwari settlement in the State of Madras under the Board s Standing Orders of that State. In these lands they have areca and pepper plantations besides rubber plantations. They also grow other crops on some of the lands. The Act is being attacked on the ground that it contravenes Arts. 14, 19 and 31 of the Constitution. Besides this, it is also contended on behalf of the petitioners that the Bill which became the Act lapsed under the provisions of the Constitution and therefore th