JUDGMENT :

MOHAN, CJI.

1. The writ petition and the transferred cases challenge the validity of Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act, 1985 (22 of 1985) (hereinafter referred to as the Act) and the order bearing No. DCP/BNP/1(2) 1986 dated 4th August, 1986 issued under sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Act. This Act is to provide for reservation of certain articles for exclusive production by handlooms and for matters connected therewith. On 31st of March, 1986, the Act came into force. Section 4 of the Act provides for constitution of an Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the Central Government to determine the nature of any article or class of articles that may be reserved for exclusive production by handlooms. On 2nd June, 1986, in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 4 of the Act, the Central Government constituted an Advisory Committee. The said Advisory Committee submitted its recommendations. After considering those recommendations the impugned order dated 4th of August, 1986 was issued directing certain articles/class of articles to be exclusively reserved for production by handlooms. It is this order which is attacked on the following