In these four petitions each of the petitioners was proceeded against under section 10-C(b) of the Laccadives Island and Minicoy Regulation - 1 of 1912 (hereinafter referred to as the Regulation). Proceedings were started on the report of the Amin of the Minicoy Island that these four petitioners have been indulging in a false propaganda against the Island Administration and that action under section 10-C of the Regulation has to be taken against them. Section 10-C(b) of the Regulation reads as follows:

"Whenever, after such inquiry as he thinks fit, the Inspecting Officer or the Collector or any of the Collector’s Assistants empowered under sub-section (1) of section 10-A is satisfied that any person in the islands-

(b) is likely to commit a breach of the peace or disturb the public tranquillity or to do any wrongful act that may probably occasion a breach of the peace or disturb the public tranquility, or * ***** *

the may require such person to execute a bond...........

This section corresponds to section 107 of the Criminal Procedure Code Section 107 contemplates a notice under section 112 setting forth the substance of the information received, the amount of the