( 1 ) THE constitutional validity of the Andhra Pradesh Commissionerate of Higher Education Act, 1986 (Act 26 of 1986), for short the State Act, having been challenged in both the writ petitions, they were heard together, and are being disposed of by this common judgment. The petitioner in W. P. No. 15582/86 is the Osmania University Teachers Association represented by its President, Sri M. Malla Reddy; and the petitioners in W. P. No. 15733/86 are Teachers-Professors, Heads of Departments, Readers and Lecturers working in the Osmania University. In the writ petitions, the State of Andhra Pradesh and the Commissionerate of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Hyderabad, are respondents 1 and 2 respectively.

( 2 ) WE have heard Sri K. G. Kannabiram for the petitioner in W. P. No. 15582/86, Sri K. Pratap Reddy for the petitioners in W. P. No. 15733/86 and the Advocate General for the respondents Sri P. Durga Prasad, stated to be the Convenor of Students Association for Better Aministration and Accountability in Osmania University, who had filed a petition for permission to intervene, also was heard.

( 3 ) IN February, 1986 the Government of Andhra Pradesh had app