1. Quits a large number of creditors in the rural areas in the State of Andhra Pradesh are challenging in these writ petitions the validity of the Andhra Pradesh Agricultural Indebtedness (Relief) Act, 1977 (Act No. 7 of 1977), hereinafter referred to as 'the Act'. After the Legislature of Andhra Pradesh passed it, the Governor of the State reserved it for the assent of the President of India on the 15 April, 1977 and it was given by the President on the 29th of April, 1977. The Act was intended "to provide relief from Indebtedness to agricultural labourers, rural artisans end small farmers in the State of Andhra Pradesh and for matters connected therewith."

2. The indictment of the Art is by way of challenging the validity of S.3(i), S.3(t), S.4(1), S.4(2)(b), S.5(1), S.5(4), S.6(4) and S.13. Sri Babulu Reddy, who mounted the main attack on behalf of the petitioners, maintained that these provisions offend Art.14 and cls. (f) and (g) of Art.19(1). He further arraigned the declaration contained in S.2 of the Act which was made to give effect to the principles specified in Art.46 of the Constitution as wholly purposeless and impracticable. Other learned counsel Sri Poornaiah and Sr