B. L. Yadav, J.

1. In these two analogous writ petitions (hereinafter to be referred to as first and second writ-petitions under Articles 226/227 of the constitution of India the petitioners have sought for the relief of an appropriate writ, order or direction, declaring the Bihar Saw Mills (Regulation) Act, 1990 (for short "the Act") to be ultra vires, being violative of Articles 14, 16, 19, 20, 21, 245, 246, 300-A and 301 of the Constitution of India and also for issuance of a writ, order or direction quashing the notice dated 15-12-1993 and 3-11-1993 (Annexures 4 and 5, respectively), by which the proprietors of the Saw Mills/saw Pits have been asked to apply for their licence, failing which necessary action under the provisions of the said Act shall be taken. By the order dated 3-11-1993 (Annexure 5) the petitioners were informed to apply for licence for running saw mills according to the Bihar saw Mills (Regulation) Rules 1993 and by the order dated 15-12-1993 (Annexure 4) the petitioners were informed that penal action will be taken against them under the said Act in case they failed to comply with the direction.

2. Certain provisions of the Act may be noticed before