JUDGMENT

ORDER:- The following eight petitions under Article 226 of the Constitution are stated to be pending before the High Court of Gujarat

(i) Special Criminal Application No. 909/ 90

(ii) Special Criminal Application No. 514/ 91;

(iii) Special Criminal Application No. 312/91;

(iv) Special Crl. Application No. 381/91;

(v) Special Criminal Application No. 581/91;

(vi) Special Crl. Application No. 380/91;

(vii) Special Crl. Application No. 583/91;

(viii) Special Crl. Application No. 499/ 91.

One of the grounds common to these petitions is as to the constitutional validity of the "Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976" as also the validity of the "Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974". In addition. the action initiated under the provisions of those statutes is also assailed.

2. This Court, by its order dated 25-10-1989, directed a stay of further proceedings in all these and similar matters before the High Court in view of the circumstance that similar .challenge to the constitutional validity of the said statutes was under consideration by this court and the matters had been referred to a Bench of Nine-Ju