JUDGMENT

JASWANT SINGH, J. :— This batch of Appeals Nos. 805, 806 and 972 to 977 of 1973 by certificate from 1472 the judgments and decrees of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh in Appeals Nos. 766 of 1968, 18 of 1969, 779 of 1968, 780 of 1968, 782 of 1968, 783 of 1971, 784 of 1968 and 785 of 1968 raise a simple but an interesting question namely, whether for the supplies of rice made by the appellants in January and February, 1964, they are to be paid price according to the rate specified in the Rice (Andhra Pradesh) Price Control (Third Amendment) Order, 1964 dated March 23, 1964 or according to the rate specified in the Rice (Andhra Pradesh) Price Control Order as it stood in 1963. The question arise in the following circumstances:

2. The appellants are millers and carry on the business of paddy and rice in the State of Andhra Pradesh. On July 31, 1959 the Government of Andhra Pradesh in exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (Central Act X of 1955) hereinafter referred to as the Act made an order called the Andhra Pradesh Rice Procurement (Levy) Order, 1959. Clause 3 of the order required every dealer and every miller to sell