1. In these writ petitions as also in number of other writ petitions filed in this Court, the vires of the Maharashtra Resettlement of Project Displaced Persons (Amendment and Validation) Act, 1985 (Maharashtra Act No. 13 of 1985) (hereinafter for brevity's sake called the Amendment and Validation Act, 1985), has been challenged. Some of these writ petitions also involve other points which may have to be given separate consideration. In view of its importance we have first heard the learned Counsel on both sides regarding validity of the said Amendment and Validation Act, 1985. We are grateful to the learned Counsel for both sides who have made arguments fairly and have given assistance to us in deciding the question in controversy.

2. The statement to the Maharashtra Ordinance No. 6 of 1985 which was later on replaced and re - enacted as Maharashtra Act 13 of 1985, contains background and circumstances under which the said Amendment and Validation Act, 1985 came to be enacted. The Maharashtra Resettlement of Project Displaced Persons Act, 1976 (Maharashtra Act 41 of 1976) (hereinafter called the principal Act) had been enacted to provide for resettlement of certain persons displace