PATNAIK, J.

( 1 ) IN O. J. C. No. 46 of 1983, the petitioners seek a declaration that the Orissa Forest Produce (Control of Trade) Act, 1981 (Orissa Act 22 of 1981) (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act') and the rules framed thereunder and the notification D/- 9-12-1982 bringing the Act into force in the whole of the State of Orissa in relation to Sal seeds with effect from the date of notification do not apply to or affect the subsisting contracts D/-May 17, 1979 entered into between the State of Orissa and the petitioner No. 1 company in respect of three forest divisions of Jeypore, Nowrangpur and Rayagada and a mandamus commanding the opposite parties to forebear from interfering with the rights of the petitioners under the said contracts to collect, purchase and remove Sal seeds from the aforesaid forest divisions.

( 2 ) PETITIONER 1 is a private limited company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956. and deals in Sal seeds including the purchase, collection, chemical treatment and supply thereof to petitioner 2-company promoted, inter alia, by petitioner 1-company for the purpose of extraction and manufacture of Sal seed oil and de-oiled cakes at its factory premises at