TULZAPURKAR, Actg. C.J. :- These four petitions have been placed before this larger bench with a view to ascertain the impact of Art.227 of the Constitution as amended by the Constitution (42 Amendment) Act, 1976 on pending petitions filed under that Article prior to its amendment and to consider the allied questions that arise under the said amended article. Each of the four petitions has been regarded as being representative in character of a large number of petitions that have been filed and are pending in this Court since prior to 1st February 1977, the date on which the amended Art.227 has come into force.

2. By Spl. Civil Application No.5377 of 1976 a certain decision rendered in appeal and confirmed in review by the Maharashtra Revenue Tribunal under the Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) Act, 1961 has been challenged by the petitioners therein under Art.227; the petition was filed on 9-12-1976 and rule nisi and interim stay were granted by this Court on 14-12-1976. Spl. Civil Application No. 1880 of 1973 is directed against an order dated 21-6-1973 passed by the Commissioner, Poona Division, rejecting an application made by the petitioners under S.