( 1 ) THIS order will also govern Miscellaneous Petitions Nos. 227 242, 243 and 297, all of 1961.

( 2 ) IN these five cases under Article 226 of the Constitution, the petitioners, challenge the vires of the Minimum Wages (Madhya Pradesh Amendment and Validation) Act, 1961, (hereinafter referred to as the Validation Act), and seek a declaration that the said Act is constitutionally invalid, ultra vires and unenforceable, and pray that a suitable direction be issued to the opponents for bearing them from giving effect to the Validation Act in any manner whatsoever.

( 3 ) THE matter arises thus. In the former State of Madhya Pradesh, which comprised the Mahakoshal region of the new State of Madhya Pradesh, the minimum wages for the workers in concerns owned by the petitioners were first fixed in 1951 by notifications issued in 1951. These rates were revised in 1956 and 1957. After the formation of the new State of Madhya Pradesh, the Government constituted under Sections 5 and 6 of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), an Advisory Board. The proposals published by the Government for fixation of the rates of minimum wages were conside