Broome, J. :- This is an application under Section 99-B, Cr.P.C., asking for the quashing of the State Government's order dated 26-8-1970 (published in the U.P. Gazette of 12-9-1970) forfeiting a book entitled "Samman ke liye dharam parivatan karen". This book is a compilation in Hindi of speeches made by the late Dr. Ambedkar, exhorting the scheduled castes to throw off the shackles of caste tyranny by repudiating the Hindu religion and adopting Buddhism instead. The application has been filed by R. N. Shastri, the publisher of the forfeited book, and by Lalai Singh Yadav, the President of the Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Literature Committee. The impugned notification cites 24 passages in the book, which are objected to because they "promote or attempt to promote on grounds of religion, caste or community disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or illwill between different religions, castes or communities and insult or attempt to insult the religion or religious belifes of a class", thereby rendering the publication of the book punishable under Section 153-A and 295-A, I.P.C.

2. The application was filed on 4-12-1970, after the expiry of the period of two months from the date