( 1 ) THESE two are petitions filed under Art. 226 of the Constitution of India for issue of a writ of Habeas Corpus quashing the two orders dated 12-3-1991 passed by the 2nd respondent and for setting one M. Ramulu (husband of the petitioner in W. P. 4534/91) and another M. Vasudev (husband of the petitioner in W. P. 4555/91) at liberty forthwith. In exercise of the powers conferred upon him under Section 3 of the Prevention of Black marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980 (hereinafter referred to as the Act ) the 2nd respondent directed detention of two detenus in the Central Prison, Hyderabad. Pursuant thereto, both the detenus were arrested and lodged in the Central Prison.

( 2 ) THE two detention orders reveal that the two detenus, who are partners and transport contractors of Indian Oil Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, Sanathnagar, Hyderabad, had indulged in large scale clandestine business in petroleum products by illegally decanting diesel meant for various consignees from their tankers by unscrewing the nuts and bolts of the lids of the tankers without tampering the seals in a scheduled place at Balanagar, H