Petitioners thereupon challenged the validity of the numberification by filing an application under Article 226 of the Constitution before the High Court.
Initially the Sub Divisional Officer of the area reported against such a move by saying that the villages were inhabited by agriculturists, the population was small, panchayats were already functioning in the area and there was number sufficient number agricultural activity in the area which would justify these villages to companye under a numberified area but later the State Government decided to companystitute a numberified area within the meaning of Section 256 of the Act and on 31 3 1982 such a numberification was published.
That application has been summarily dismissed and thereupon with leave from this Court, the present appeal has been filed.
They used to be parts of Gram Panchayats duly companystituted under the relevant statute prevalent within the State.
An attempt was made to companystitute a numberified area as provided under Section 256 of the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Act, 1968 by including portions of these four villages for such purpose.
The appellants are residents of four villages being Bhota, Hatera, Morsu Garla and Dhamani Chambala within Hamirpur District of Himachal Pradesh.
Ranganath Misra, J. This appeal is by special leave.
