( 1 ) THIS application challenges the validity of the Oriental Gas Company Act being West Bengal Act XV of 1960. The Oriental Gas Company Limited was originally constituted by a Deed of Settlement dated April 25, 1853 by the name of the Oriental Gas Company. On April 27, 1853 the company obtained a certificate of complete registration in accordance with the provisions of the Statute 7 and 8, Vict. Cap. 110. The said company was subsequently registered in England with limited liability under the provisions of the English Joint Stock Companies Act, 1862.

( 2 ) IN 1857, an Act being Act V of 1857 was passed by the Legislative Council of India. It was an Act to confer certain powers on the Oriental Gas Company Limited. The preamble of Act V of 1857 contains the recitals that the said Company has erected gas works on land granted for that purpose by Government in the vicinity of the town of Calcutta and is engaged in the preparation of apparatus and materials for the manufacture and supply of gas for lighting the said town; it is expedient that powers and facilities should be given to the said company to enable them to carry out their undertaking of lighting with gas the