JUDGMENT

VENKATARAMIAH, J. :— Civil Appeals Nos. 2069 of 1972 and 2070 of 1972 by special leave are filed against the common Judgment dated 31-7-1972 in Civil Rules Nos. 477 of 1968 and 483 of 1968 respectively on the file of the High Court of Assam, Nagaland. Meghalaya, Manipur & Tripura. Since common questions of law arise for consideration in these two cases, they are disposed of by his common judgment.

2. The respondents in these two appeals are forest contractors and they were operating in two forests called Lum Langkaraw and Lumkhliem Moriap alleged to be belonging to Joseph and Kailla Rymbai. These forests are situated within the jurisdiction of the District Council of the Jowai Autonomous District, Jowai (hereinafter referred to as the District Council) - Appellant No. 1 herein. On April 20, 1968 the Secretary of the Executive Committee of the District Council issued a notification levying royalty in exercise of its power under the United Khasi and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District (Management and Control of Forests) Act, 1958 (Act 1 of 1959) (hereinafter referred to as the Act) on red pine, white pine and log pine timber grown in the private forests situated within the juri