( 1 ) THE petitioners, who are advocates practising in the High Court of Madhya pradesh at Jabalpur, have filed this petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the constitution challenging, inter alia the orders of Hon'ble the Chief Justice of the high Court of Madhya Pradesh (hereinafter referred to as 'the Chief Justice'), dated 5-2-1976.

( 2 ) THIS petition raises an important question of jurisdiction of the High Court at its principal seat vis-a-vis the jurisdiction of the Benches at Indore and Gwalior. The present State of Madhya Pradesh was constituted under Section 9 of the states Reorganization Act, 195,6 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act') with effect from the appointed day, that is, 1-11-1956, comprising of-

(a) The territories of the former State of Madhya Pradesh, except the districts of Nagpur, Chanda, Bhandara, Akola Amravati, Yeotmal, wardha and Buldana;

(b) the territories of the former State of Madhya Bharat, except Sunel tappa of Bhanpura tahsil of Mandsaur district;

(c) Sironj sub-division of Kotah district in the then State of Rajasthan; (d) the territories of the former State of Bhopal; and (e) the territories of the former State of Vindhya Pradesh.

( 3 )