JUDGMENT

SEN, J. :— These petitions under Article 32 of the Constitution and the connected special leave petitions mainly challenge the constitutional validity of the second proviso to sub-clause (1) of Cl. 11 of the Punjab Foodgrains Dealers Licensing and Price Control Order, 1978 (for short the Order), as inserted by the Punjab Foodgrains Dealers Licensing and Price Control (First Amendment) Order, 1980, with effect from March 27, 1980, as violative of Arts, 14 and 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution, as also the legality and propriety of the action of the licensing authorities in suspending the licences held by the petitioners.

2. It appears that the licences held by the petitioners who are foodgrains dealers in the State of Punjab, have been suspended by orders passed by the District Food and Supplies Controllers, Faridkot and Bhatinda, for a period not exceeding ninety days under the second proviso to sub-cl. (1) of Cl. 11 of the Order. The orders of suspension of licence in each of these cases rest on the allegation that the licensee has committed a breach of conditions Nos. 4, 8 and 10 of the licences. The petitioners have all been served with notices under the first proviso to su