Judgment

AYYANGAR, J. : This batch of 11 Appeals which have been consolidated for hearing are directed against the common judgment of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and are before us on the grant of a certificate of fitness under Art. 133(1) of the Constitution by the said High Court.

2. The proceedings concerned in the appeals arise out of Writ petitions filed before the High Court by the several appellants before us under Art. 226 of the Constitution challenging the validity of three Schemes framed under Chapter IV-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939, nationalising Motor Transport in certain areas in the Kurnool District of the State of Andhra Pradesh which for convenience we shall refer to as the impugned Schemes. The appellants who impugn the validity of the Schemes are the previously existing Motor Transport Operators whose permits are liable to be modified or cancelled under the provisions of the Schemes on their coming into force. The impugned Schemes were published by Government as G. O. Ms: 292, 293 and 294 of the Home, Transport Department on February 5, 1 in virtue of the powers conferred on Government by sub-s. (2) of S. 68-D of the Motor Vehicles Act. The Andhra Pradesh