Judgment

BHARGAVA, J.: This writ petition and the appeal challenge the validity of the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan Act No. 13 of 1962 (hereinafter referred to as the Act"). The facts leading up to the passing of this enactment are that, in the year 1910, some eminent educationists assembled at Banaras and founded an Association for the development of Hindi and its propagation throughout the country. This Association was named as the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan. On the 8th January, 1914, it was registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act No. 21 of 1860, with Head Office at Allahabad, under the name of Hindi Sahitya Sammelan. The rules and bye-laws of the Society laid down the objects of this Association and the manner of its working. It had three classes of members, viz, special members (Vishisht Sadasya), permanent members (Sthayi Sadasya) and ordinary members (Sadharan Sadasya). Under the bye-laws, apart from the original members constituting the Society, further members could be admitted under those three classifications on being elected by the working committee of the Society. Under the Rules and bye-laws of the Society, other bodies could be constituted far carrying on