SURAT SINGH Vs. KAHAN SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS judgment will dispose of a number of petition in which a common question of law has arisen.

(2.) IN order to provide relief from indebtedness to certain farmers, landless agricultural labourers, and rural artisans in the State of Himachal Pradesh, the State Legislative Assembly pasted the Himachal Pradesh Relief of Agricultural indebtedness Act (Act No. 17 of 1976) (hereinafter referred to as the Act). It came into force on 13th Nov., 1975. Since the relief was to be granted only to a defined class of farmers, various words were defined by Section 2 (1) of the Act. We may now note the relevant provision of this Sub section:

(3.) SECTION 3 provides for the consequences of commencement of this Act. It reads thus: