JUDGMENT

K. RAMASWAMY, J. - Special leave granted.

2. These appeals arise from the order of the Division Bench dated January 18, 1990 of the Karnataka High Court in Writ Petition Nos. 11215-11223 of 1985 and batch. The respondents own different extents of agricultural land situated at Jambaga and other villages in Bijapur District of Karnataka State which were in erstwhile part of Bombay province. They leased out their lands to M/s. Sugarcane Products and Industries Ltd., a registered company, by a registered lease dated April 1, 1942 for a period of 30 years which stood expired on March 31, 1973 but remained in possession as tenant. The Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961, Act 10 of 1962 (for short the Act) was amended by Amendment Act 1 of 1974 (for short the Amendment Act). The latter came into effect from March 1, 1974. Section 79-B of the Act prohibits holding of agricultural land by certain persons. Sub-section (1)(b) declares that with effect from the date of the commencement of the Amendment Act, it shall not be lawful for a company to hold any land. Sub-section (2) thereof mandates every such company to furnish to the Tehsildar having jurisdiction over the land, a declaration