(1.) BY our short order dated 22 -2 -1983, we directed the release of the detenus, Shri prafulla Kumar Mahnnta and Shri Bhrigu Kumar Phukan, whose detention under the National Security Act, 1980, was challenged in these two writ petitions. We now proceed to state our reasons.
(2.) AS similar questions of fact and law arise in these two petitions under Article 226 of the Constitution. they are disposed of by this common judgment.
(3.) A number of contentions were advanced at the hearing of the petitions but we propose to deal with only two of them which, in our opinion go to the root of the matter and which when accepted, in our opinion, would result in the invalidation of the order.