Untwalia, J.

1. As the main point of importance was common to all these four cases, they were heard together and are being disposed of by this judgment. After discussing the said point at the outset, I shall proceed to deal with the facts of each case and the special points, if any.

2. The petitioners in all these cases are non-gazetted employees serving in the various departments of the State of Bihar. In August 1965, by orders of the State Government made under Rule 30 (1) (b) of the Defence of India Rules, 1962, hereinafter called the Rules, they were arrested and detained in prison. The common ground on which they are challenging the orders of detention is that of mala fide. The petitioners plead that they are office-bearers. and members of the Bihar State Non-gazetted Employees Federation and the Patna Secretariat Ministerial Officers Association, and they have been taking active part in the various activities of the said Organisations for ventilating and redress of the grievances of the non-gazetted employees. During the course of the lawful and peaceful agitations which they have thus carried on, they have incurred the displeasure of Shri K.B. Sahay, the Chief Minist