A.P.CHOWDHRI, J. - (1.) This judgment would dispose of C.W.P. No. 15625 of 1991 and six applications under S. 96 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Code') being Crl. Misc. Nos. 3250-M of 1985, 6401-M and 8116-M of 1987, 1886-M of 1988 and 10674-M and 11413-M of 1991 directed against different orders of forfeiture passed under S. 95 of the Code. As the material points arising in these petitions are common and overlapping, it would be convenient to dispose of the same by a common judgment.
(2.) The writ petition came up for hearing before A. L. Bahri and V. K. Bali, JJ. The learned Judges were of the opinion that the matter involved was of considerable general importance and deserved to be considered by a larger Bench. That is how the same is before us.
(3.) The writ petition was filed by Shri Barjinder Singh, Chief Editor of the daily Punjabi newspaper The Ajit published from Jalandhar. It seeks three reliefs :- (1) Section 95 of the Code be declared constitutionally invalid and ultra vires Arts. 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution. (2) The unwritten policy of the State Government to forfeit various issues of the Ajit be quashed. (3) Censorship, though not formally imposed on the publication of the newspaper The Ajit, be removed.;