NATESAN, J.:- In these related petitions under Article 226 of the Constitution, the validity of the Pondicherry Civil Courts Act, XII of 1966 is challenged. W.P. No. 2634 of 1966 has been filed by D. Gobalousamy, Advocate Council and President of the Bar Association, Pondicherry and W.P. No.3294 of 1968 by J. Gnany, President of the Court of First instance, Pondicherry, who, besides attacking the validity of the Act on general grounds, raises grounds personal to him.

2. The impugned Act was passed by the Legislative Assembly of Pondicherry, and received the assent of the President on 21st October, 1966. It extends to the whole of the Union Territory of Pondicherry and Section 1(3) of the Act provides that it shall come into force on such date as the Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint Different provisions of the Act may be brought into force on different dates. The scheme of the enactment, in the main, is to substitute for the Tribunal Superieurd' Appeal, Courts of Tribunal delere instance and Judge de Paix, Courts exercising civil jurisdiction, Courts of District Judge, Subordinate Judge and Munsif respectively. Certain transitory provisions are