(1.) These petitions under Art. 32 of the Constitution impugn the validity of the U. P. Sugarcane (Regulation of Supply and Purchase) Act, 1953 (U. P. Act 24 of 1953 of 1953) hereinafter called the impugned Act and the notifications dated 27-9-1954 and 9-11-1955 issued by the U.P. Government thereunder.
(2.) The petitioners are sugarcane growers in the several villages of the Districts of Meerut, Kheri, Gorakhpur and Deoria in the State of U. P. numbering 4724 in the aggregate. Associated with them are the President, the Vice-Presidents and the Secretary of an association which is styled "the Ganna Utpadak Sangh" which is a rival body to the Co-operative Development Unions established and recognised under the impugned Act.
(3.) A short history of the legislation enacted by the Centre as well as the Province of U. P. in regard to sugar and sugarcane will be helpful for the determination of the questions arising in these petitions. On 8-4-1932, the Central Legislature passed the Sugar Industry (Protection) Act, 1932 (Act 13 of 1932) to provide for the fostering and development of Sugar Industry in India in pursuance of the policy of discriminating protection of industries with due regard to the well being of the community.