Dr. D.Y. CHANDRACHUD, J.:---On 3rd December, 1998, the Government of Maharashtra, in exercise of powers conferred by section 95(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, declared that every copy, including the manuscript or any other form of the play entitled "Mee Nathuram Godse Boltoy" and its translations in Gujarati or any other language shall stand forfeited to Government. The Gujarati translation of the original in Marathi is entitled "Gandhi Ke Godse". In these proceedings, the order of forfeiture has been sought to be impugned. In view of the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 96 of the Code, the petition has been heard by a Special Bench of three Judges. In the petition as originally filed, the writer of the play was the second petitioner before the Court. The first petitioner claimed that he was a social worker, inter alia, working for an institution known by the name and style of the "Hindu Manch" of the District of Thane. The first petitioner has since expired, after the matter was heard and judgment was reserved. The name of the first petitioner is deleted from the array of parties and the petition is disposed of on the basis that the writer of the play