Judgment

HEGDE, J.:- In this batch of appeals, the validity of the Madras Inam Estates (Abolition and Conversion Into Ryotwari) Act, 1963 (Madras Act 26 of 1963); the Madras Lease-Holds (Abolition and Conversion Into Ryotwari) Act, l963 (Madras Act 27 of 1963) and the Madras Minor Inams (Abolition and Conversion Into Ryotwari) Act 1963 (Madras Act 30 of 1363) is challenged on the ground that the material provisions in those Acts are violative of Arts 14, 1 3 (1) (f) and 31 of the Constitution The provisions in these Acts reducing the tenants liability to pay the arrears of rent are also challenged on the ground that the legislature had no competence to enact those provisions. A few other minor contentions are also raised in these appeals to which reference will be made in the course of the judgment. All these contentions had been unsuccessfully urged before the High Court. Dealing with the allegation of infringement of Arts. 14, 19 and 31, the High Court in addition to holding that there has been no infringement of those Articles has further held that the challenge to the validity of these Acts on the basis of those Articles is precluded in view of Art. 31-A. Dealing with the conte