PUTTASWAMY, J. : - On a reference made, these cases are posted before us for disposal.

2. As the petitioners in all these cases have challenged the validity of one and the same enactment and the different orders made thereunder in which various interconnected questions arise for consideration, they can conveniently be disposed of by a common order. We therefore propose to dispose of them by a common order.

3. On 1-11-1956, the new State of Mysore now called 'Karnataka' was formed comprising the territories referred to in S.7. States Reorganisation Act, 1955 (Central Act 37 of 1956).

4. Prior to 15-8-1947, on which day India attained independence and thereafter, the respective Governments of the erstwhile States of the new Karnataka State, had introduced various ameliorative measures for the advancement of the members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (hereinafter referred to as SC/ST) and one of them was Government lands were granted to them free of cost or at concessional price imposing restrictions on the rights of grantees to dispose of the lands granted to them. The new State also has pursued the same policy with greater vigour.

5. Before independence and therea