( 1. ) THIS is an application by the State Government under Article 134 (1) (c) of the Constitution for the grant of a certificate of fitness for appeal to the Supreme Court against the order of this Court dated 23-1-1974 in Criminal Revision No. 721 of 1973. A similar application has been filed by the State Government for the grant of a certificate of fitness for appeal to the Supreme Court against the order of this Court dated 23-1-1974 in Criminal Revision No. 720 of 1973 which has been registered as miscellaneous Criminal Case No. 61 of 1974. Both these cases have been heard together and the order in this case will govern both.

( 2. ) NON-APPLICANTS 1 to 3 in this case and non-applicant No. 1 in the connected case are forest contractors. They took on lease forest ranges of the North Forest Division of Surguja District for collection of Sal seeds. The South Forest Division was given to the Madhva Pradesh State Tribal Co-operative Development Federation Ltd. (hereinafter called the Federation ). The Managing Director of the Federation made a report to the Superintendent of Police, Surguja, that the forest contractors of the North Forest Division had collected Sal seeds f