By these petitions the validity of the United Khasi-Jaintia Hills District (Application of Laws) Regulation, 1952 (Regulation No. V of 1952) and the notification issued by the Governor of Assam in the year 1961 under the said Regulation has been challenged

(2) Briefly the facts are that the peti­tioners are residents of the United Khasi and Jaintia Hills District. They possess still for preparation of liquor from millet. The peti­tioners obtained some permits from one Jor Manik who was the Siem of Mylliem. The petitioners resolved an order passed by the Superintendent of Excise, United Khasi and Jaintia Hills to the effect that as the permits were from the unauthorised person inasmuch as Mr. Jor Manik was not a duly appointed Siem of Mylliem, those permits could not be renewed and further that the petitioners should stop their still with immediate effect. The permits granted by the acting Siem were, how­ever, not disturbed. The acting Siem, accord­ing to the petitioners, had been realising excise duty or fee 01 tax from the still producing liquor. The letter sent by the Superintendent of Excise, United Khasi and Jaintia Hills say that the application of the petition