( 1 ) THIS judgement would dispose of Civil Writs Nos. 250 and 251 of 1969 wherein the petitioners have impugned the constitutional validity of the Delhi, Meerut and Buland shahr Milk and Milk Products Control Order, 1969 (hereinafter referred to as the order ). The respondents named in the petitions are the Union of India through the Secretary, Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Community Development, Co-operation and Panchayat Raj (Department of Agriculture), and the Delhi Administration through the Under Secretary (Civil Supplies ).

( 2 ) THE impunged Order was issued by the Central Government on February 27, 1969. The preamble of the order reads as under :-

"where as the Central Government is of opinion that it is necessary so to do for maintaining and increasing supplies of milk and for securing its equitable distribution in the areas comprising the Union Territory of Delhi and the Districts of Meerut and Bulandshahar in the State of Uttar Pradesh:

"now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (No. 10 of 1955), the Central Government hereby makes the the following orders:"

( 3 ) ACCORDING to clause I of the O