Ramratna Singh, J.

1. This application is directed against an order of the Collector of Saran, dated the 9th February, 1966, directing the prosecution of the petitioners under certain provisions of the Indian Treasure Trove Act, 1878 (hereinafter to be referred to as the Act).

2. On the 5th April, 1960, some boys and girls were grazing cattle in a chaur (parti paddy land) and petitioner No. 1, Shyam Bahadur Koeri, aged about 7 years, was one of those boys. He came across some thing looking like gold and he is said to have dug the soil with a stick used for tending cattle and discovered a golden disc or plate. Thereafter, some of the graziers began to play with the disc with their sticks and it was broken. Sheosakal Bhar, an older boy, who was also grazing his cattle nearby, took away the disc from Shyam Bahdur, who went home and reported the matter to his mother, who is petitioner No. 2. She came to the field and took the disc from Sheosakal and got it tested by some goldsmith who reported the same to be made of gold. The Village Choukidar came to know about the same and informed about it to the Sub-Inspector of Guthani Police Station who came to the village on the 7th Apri