Judgment

BEG, C.J.I. :- Original Suits Nos. 1 to 6 of 1977, before us now, have been filed on behalf of the States of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar Himachal Pradesh and Orissa against the Union of India under Art. 131 of the Constitution of India. There are also before us three Writ Petitions Nos .67 to 69 of 1977, by three members of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Punjab against the Union of India and Shri Charan Singh, the Home Minister in the Government of India, and Shri Zail Singh, Chief Minister of Punjab. The six suits and the three Writ Petitions raise certain common questions of law and fact. They were, therefore, permitted to be argued together. We have already dismissed the suits and petitions after hearing them at length and now propose to state our reasons for doing so as stated in our order of 29th April 1977. Before dealing with the questions of fact and law I will indicate the nature of the reliefs sought by each plaintiff under Art. 131 and the grievance of each petitioner under Art. 32 of the Constitution.

2. The State of Rajasthan asked for a declaration that what is described as a "directive, contained in the letter dated 18th April, 1977, is