1. In these applications, we are asked to pronounce against the constitutionality of a legislation made by the legislature of the new State of Mysore entitled the Mysore Village Offices Abolition Act, 1961 (Mysore Act No. 14 of 1961), and, in the decision of this question, we had the advantage of an interesting and learned argument on bow sides.

2. The applicants are village officers of the new State of Mysore. Some of them are Shanbhogs and the others are patels. We have before us Shanbhogs and patels appointed under the Mysore Village Offices Act, 1908, (Mysore. Act No. IV of 1908) and village officers known as Karnams appointed under the Madras Hereditary Village Offices Act, 1895 (Madras Act No. 111 of 1895). There is one more before us who is called a stipendiary shanbhog appointed under S.14 of the Mysore Land Revenue Code.

3. In the thirty six matters which were heard together, there are in all 943 applicants 924 out of them are shanbhogs among whom one is the stipendiary; 2 are patels and 20 are karnams.

4. On July 8, 1961, the Mysore Village Offices Abolition Act, 1961 (Mysore Act No. 14 of 1961) enacted by no legislature of the New State of Mysore and which will be referr