The Chief Justice.-In this batch of applications filed on behalf of several landholders in the State, a common question arises as to the validity of Madras Act XXX of 1947 and of Madras Act VII of 1951 which amended the former Act in certain particulars. Individual applications also raise other questions, but it was considered convenient to hear and dispose of the main question before dealing with other subsidiary questions. Madras Act XXX of 1947 received the assent of the Governor on the 6th January, 1948. It is called the Madras Estates Land (Reduction of Rent) Act, 1947. The descriptive title runs as follows: "An Act to provide for the reduction of rents payable by ryots in estates governed by the Madras Estates Land Act, 1908, approximately to the level of the assessments levied on lands in ryotwari areas in the neighbourhood."

The following is the preamble to the Act:

"Whereas the rents now payable by ryots in estates governed by the Madras Estates Land Act, 1908, are in many cases substantially higher than the assessments levied on lands in ryotwari areas, in the neighbourhood;

and whereas it is expedient to provide for reduction of such rents approximately to the lev