Summarize the following court judgment. 54 of 1955. Petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India for the enforcement of fundamental rights. Purshottam Tricumdas	 section N. Andley	 Rameshwar Nath	 J. B. Dadachanji and P. L. Vohra	 for the petitioner. 	 C. K. Daphtary	 Solicitor General of India	 Porus A . Mehta and R. H. Dhebar	 for the respondent. M. L. Misra	 Advocate General	 U.P.	 and C.P. Lal	 for the Intervener. May 1. The Judgment of section R. Das C. J.	 Jafer Imam	 section K. Das and Govinda Menon JJ. was delivered by section K. Das J. Sarkar J. delivered a separate judgment. section K. DAS J.On November 8	 1955	 the Ministry of Commerce and Industry	 Government of India	 published a notified order	 in exercise of the powers conferred on that Government by section 18A of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act	 1951	 hereinafter referred to as the Act	 authorising one Shri Kedar Nath Khetan of Padrauna	 called the 1054 authorised Controller	 to take over the management of the Ishwari Khetan Sugar Mills Ltd.	 Lakshmiganj	 Deoria	 subject to certain conditions. The order as originally passed and published was to have effect for a period of one year only	 commencing on the date of its publication in the official gazette. On November 7	 1956	 there was an amendment of that order. The amendment was published in notification No. 338 A of even date and stated in effect that in stead and place of the words 'one year ' occurring in the order	 the words 1 two years ' shall be substituted. Petitioner No. 1 before us is one Kamlaprasad. Khetan	 who states that lie is a Director and shareholder of the second petitioner	 which is the Ishwari Khetan Sugar Mills Ltd. The Union of India was and is the only respondent. By an order dated October 1	 1956	 this Court permitted the said authorised Controller to intervene	 with the result that both the Union of India and the authorised Controller have been heard in opposition to the petition. The substantial case of the petitioners is that the order referred to above dated November 8	 1955	 and the amending order dated November 7	 1956	 are invalid in law and bad on certain other grounds to be stated presently	 and it is not open to the Central Government to interfere with the fundamental right of the petitioners to hold and manage their property on the strength of the said invalid orders; the petitioners therefore pray for the issue of appropriate writs or directions to quash those orders. Short and simple as the case of the petitioners appears to be at first sight	 it is necessary to refer to a background of certain antecedent facts for a proper understanding and appreciation of the issues involved in the present dispute between the parties. The Ishwari Khetan Sugar Mills Ltd.	 is a public limited Company	 in which four branches of a family known as the Khetan family held a large number of shares and only about one fourth of the shares were held by outsiders. The Company was managed by a firm of Managing Agents	 subject to supervision by the Directors. Four members of the Khetan family 1055 constituted the Managing Agency firm	 of which Kedar Nath Khetan (later appointed as the authorised Controller) was one and Onkarmal Khetan (now deceased)	 father of petitioner Kamlaprasad Khetan	 was another. The Managing Agents managed two Mills	 known as the Ishwari Khetan Sugar Mills Ltd.	 Lakshmiganj	 and the Maheshwari Khetan Sugar Mills Ltd.	 Ramkola	 District Deoria. We are concerned in the present case with the Ishwari Khetan Sugar Mills Ltd. The Managing Agents were also partners in the firm of managing agents of certain other companies	 namely	 Morarji Gokul Das Spinning and Weaving Mills	 Bombay	 and Laxmidevi Sugar Mills Ltd.	 Deoria. In the affidavit in opposition filed on behalf of the authorised Controller	 it is stated that the Khetan family was in the beginning a mere trading family	 but " due to the initiative	 business acumen and imagination of Rai Bahadur Kedar Nath Khetan	 various manufacturing concerns including several sugar factories grew up " ; and it was under his direction that the other members of the family	 including Onkarmal Khetan	 were put in charge of the day today routine administration of one business or the other. There was a provision in the Managing Agency agreement under which every member of the firm of Managing Agents was authorised to exercise all the powers of the Managing Agents. According to the case of the authorised Controller	 trouble arose between the members of the different branches of the family of Managing Agents sometime in 1950 51 when it came to light that Onkarmal Khetan had surreptitiously withdrawn large sums of money from the accounts of the various businesses in which the members of the Khetan family were interested as Managing Agents	 and this led to certain suits being instituted against Onkarmal Khetan. The latter	 in his turn	 retaliated by bringing suits for the appointment of a Receiver	 or for restraining the holding of a general meeting of one of the mills	 and instituting certain other preceedings stated to be of an obstructive nature and calculated to create an impasse in the working of the mills	 1056 The petitioners on the contrary alleged that when the balance sheet of the Ishwari Khetan Sugar Mills Ltd.	 for the financial year 1950 51 was published in June 1952	 it was discovered that some of the Directors including the authorised Controller had utilised the funds of the Company for their personal gain and had committed breaches of certain provisions of the Indian Companies Act. This led to Suit No. 4 of 1952 brought by the petitioners against some of the Directors	 including the authorised Controller	 for an order of permanent injunction restraining the said Directors from exercising any powers as Directors of petitioner No. 2 and also for a declaration that a notice calling the twenty fourth ordinary general meeting of the Company to be held on July 9	 1952	 was illegal and invalid. In that suit	 an ex parte order of injunction was made against the Directors concerned on July 8	 1952. That order was	 however	 subsequently vacated as being without jurisdiction and a fresh order was made on June 3	 1953. In the affidavit filed on behalf of the authorised Controller	 it has been stated that on legal advice obtained by the defendants of that suit to the effect that the ex parte order of injunction dated July 8	 1952	 was without jurisdiction	 the twenty fourth ordinary general meeting of the Company was held on July 9	 1952	 and the shareholders unanimously passed a resolution in that meeting approving and adopting the Directors ' report and the audited balance sheet of the Company as on October 9	 1951. The fresh temporary order of injunction which was passed by the Civil Judge	 Deoria	 on June 3	 1953	 was confirmed by the High Court of Allahabad by its order dated September 14	 1953. Feeling that the order of stay would completely dislocate the affairs of the Company	 the shareholders themselves called an extraordinary general meeting which was held on November 9	 1953	 and at that meeting the authorised Controller and certain other persons were re elected as Directors of the Company	 subject to the condition that if the Court decided in Suit No. 4 of 1952 that the said Directors had not ceased to be Directors	 the resolution would be ineffectual to that extent. There 1057 were several proceedings in the High Court of Allahabad In connection with Suit No. 4 of 1952	 and in one of them the High Court was moved for an expeditious hearing of the suit	 and such a direction was made by the High Court. Unfortunately	 however	 for reasons which need not be stated here	 Suit No. 4 of 1952 is still awaiting trial and on July 31	 1956	 petitioner No. 1 obtained an ex parte order from the said High Court adjourning the hearing of the suit. The case of the anthorised Controller is that petitioner No. 1 having realised that he is not supported by the majority of shareholders and cannot	 therefore	 legally represent the Company	 is delaying the hearing of Suit No. 4 of 1952 on one ground or another. While all this legal tussle	 with allegations and counter allegations made by the parties	 was going on in the arena of the Courts of law	 certain other events happened to which a reference must now be made. The petitioners allege that the authorised Controller	 finding that the majority of the shareholders and Directors were not in favour of his managing the Ishwari Khetan 	Sugar Mills Ltd. moved the Ministry of Food	 through his grandson Durga Prasad Khetan and another gentle man. related to him	 for passing orders under sections 15 and 17 of the Act. On November 8	 1952	 a communication was received from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture	 Government of India	 wherein was stated: "The Government of India consider that if on account of the failure of the parties concerned to compose their differences and inability to take timely and proper steps to arrange for normal working of the mills	 the mills are not able to start work in time during the 1952 53 season	 or are unable to work at all	 it will result in a substantial fall in the production of sugar without due justification. Such a result will lead to the conclusion that the mills are being managed in a manner likely to damage the interests of a substantial body of consumers besides cane growers and mill workers. " The communication concluded with the statement that	 in the circumstances stated above	 the Government of India would be constrained to order an investigation 136 1058 into the matter and	 if necessary	 to undertake the management of the said mills. It may be stated hers that the communication was in respect of both the Ishwari Khetain Sugar Mills Ltd. and the Maheshwari Khetan Sugar Mills Ltd. On December 18	 1952	 the Central Government did actually pass an order under sub section (4) of section 3 of the Essential Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act	 1946	 under which the authorised Controller was empowered to exercise certain functions of control in respect of the Ishwari Khetan Sugar Mills Ltd.	 the functions of control being stated in detail in notification No. S.R.O. 2073 of even date. On December 23	 1952	 Onkarmal filed a writ petition to this Court against the aforesaid order of the Central Government and asked for an interim direction staying the operation of the order. This Court gave a direction expediting the hearing of the petition	 and further directed that the accounts of the petitioner Company be audited periodically by a Government or private auditor at the instance of Onkarmal. The writ petition itself could not	 however	 be heard in time and was later dismissed on May 14	 1954	 as having become infructuous in the meantime. On July 30	 1953	 the Central Government passed an order under section 15 of the Act in respect of several mills	 including the Ishwari Khetan Sugar Mills Ltd. Under that order the Central Government appointed three independent persons for making a full and complete investigation into the circumstances of each of the industrial undertakings referred to therein. Then	 on November 14	 1953	 the Central Government made an order under section 18A of the Act	 by which the authorised Controller was appointed to take over the management of the Ishwari Khetan Sugar Mills Ltd. It may be stated here that the Act was amended in 1953 by Act 26 of 1953. By that amendment	 section 17 was omitted and a new chapter	 viz.	 Chapter IIIA	 was inserted. This new chapter contained section 18A under which the Central Government passed its order dated November 14	 1953. The order stated that it shall have effect for a period of one year. In December 1953 came the decision of this Court in Dwarkadas Shrinivas of 1059 Bombay vs The Sholapur Spinning & Weaving Co. Ltd. That decision pronounced oil article 31(2) of the Constitution with reference to the validity of the Sholapur Spinning and Weaving Company (Emergency Provisions) Ordinance 11 of 1950 and Act XXVIII of 1950. As a result	 presumably	 of that decision	 on May 21	 1954	 the Central Government cancelled all appointments of authorised Controllers under the provisions of the Act	 and on such cancellation the management of the industrial undertaking vested again in the owner of the undertaking. The case of the petitioners is that in spite of the cancellation the authorised Controller continued to remain in possession of the undertaking in	 question. On July 16	 1954	 the Central Government again passed an order under sub section (4) of section 3 of the Essential Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act	 1946	 thereby again giving the authorised Controller certain functions of control in respect of the Ishwari Khetan Sugar Mills Ltd. On September 19	 1954	 there was another investigation under section 15 of the Act by a panel of officers and it is stated that they recommended that the Central Government should take over the management of the Mills for a period of three years. On January 31	 1955	 the present petitioners filed a writ petition in this Court in respect of the order passed by the Central Government on July 16	 1954. This is the writ petition which	 after necessary amendments	 is now under consideration before us	 the amendments having been necessitated by reason of certain subsequent notifications made by the Central Government. These subsequent notifications are (1) the notifications made on November 8	 1955	 by which the earlier order made on July 16	 1954	 was cancelled and a fresh order made under section 18A of the Act; and (2) the amending order dated November 7	 1956 to both of which a reference has been made in the first paragraph of this judgment. By reason of these subsequent notifications	 the order dated July 16	 1954	 no longer exists	 and the writ petition which was originally directed against that order stands in need of amendment. (1) ; 1060 The petitioners have prayed for an amendment of the original writ petition and also for permission to urge fresh grounds to challenge the validity of the two notified orders	 one dated November 8	 1955	 and the other dated November 7	 1956. By an order of the Judge in Chambers dated February 18	 1957	 the petition for amendment and for urging additional grounds was directed to be heard along with the main petition under article 32. But before that date	 i.e.	 on November 5	1956	 when the stay application of the petitioners was heard	 the following direction was given by this Court " The hearing of the main petition under article 32 to be expedited. . . . . . . it will be open to the petitioners to challenge that the appointment of R. B. Kedar Nath Khetan	 if again made	 is also bad. " In view of the aforesaid directions	 we have treated the main petition under article 32 as a petition against the latest orders passed by the Central Government appointing the authorised Controller to take over the management of the undertaking	 and we have also permitted the petitioners to urge fresh grounds in support of their petition. Having indicated in the preceding paragraphs the necessary background against which the dispute between the parties has to be considered	 we proceed now to a consideration of the grounds on which the petitioners challenge the validity of the orders dated November 8	 1955	 and November 7	 1956. It is necessary to clear the ground by stating at the very outset that learned counsel for the petitioners has not challenged the validity of section 18A of the Act under which the impugned orders were made. We have already stated that Chapter IIIA of the Act was inserted by the Amending Act 26 of 1953. Article 31B of the Constitution was enacted by the Constitution (First Amendment Act	 1951	 which states	 inter alia	 that none of the Acts and Regulations specified in the Ninth Schedule nor any of the provisions thereof shall be deemed to be void	 or ever to have become void	 on the ground that such Act	 Regulation or provision is 1061 inconsistent with	 or takes away or abridges any of the rights conferred by	 any provisions of this Part (meaning Part III) of the Constitution. The Ninth Schedule was added to by the Constitution (Fourth Amendment) Act	 1955. Item No. 19 of the Ninth Schedule is now Chapter IIIA of the Act as inserted by the Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act	 1953. Learned Counsel for the petitioners has frankly conceded that in view of these amending provisions	 he is not now in a position to challenge the validity of section 18A of the Act. Therefore	 the principal question for our consideration is the validity of the impugned orders made under that section. Learned counsel for the petitioners has attacked the two orders on the following grounds: (1)the order of November 8	 1955	 is not a lawful order	 as it does not fulfill one of the essential requirements of section 18A of the Act under which it purports to have been made; (2)even assuming that the order was a good order when it was made	 section 18A of the Act does not authorise an extension of the period during which the order is to remain in force	 in the manner in which the extension was made on November 7	 1956	 and such extension did not comply with one of the essential requirements of section 21 of the General Clauses Act	 (No. X of 1897); and (3)in any event	 the order is not a bonafide order in that the Central Government appointed the very person who was mismanaging the undertaking	 who was one of the parties to a pending dispute	 and against whom an order of injunction had been passed by a Court of competent jurisdiction. These three grounds we now propose to examine in the order in which we have set them out. (1)We must first read section 18A of the Act so far as it is relevant for our purpose. The section states If the Central Government is of opinion that (a). . . . (b)an industrial undertaking in respect of which an investigation has been made under section 15 (whether or not any directions have been issued to the 1062 undertaking in pursuance of section 16	 is being managed in a manner highly detrimental to	 the scheduled industry concerned or to public interest	 the Central Government may	 by notified order	 authorise any person or body of persons to take over the management of the whole or any part of the undertaking or to exercise in respect of the whole or any part of the undertaking such functions of control as may be specified in the order. (2)Any notified order issued under sub section (1) shall have effect for such period not exceeding five years as may be specified in the order. Provided that the Central Government	 if it is of opinion that it is expedient in public interest so to do	 may direct that any such notified order shall continue to have effect after the expiry of the period of five years aforesaid for such further period as may be specified in the direction and where any such direction is issued	 a copy thereof shall be laid	 as soon as may be	 before both Houses of Parliament. " The argument before us is that for the application of cl. (b) of sub section (1) of section 18A	 the two essential requirements are (1) an investigation under section 15 of the Act and (ii) the opinion of the Central Government that the industrial undertaking is being managed in a manner highly detrimental to the scheduled industry concerned or lo public interest. Learned counsel for the petitioners has conceded that before the order dated November 8	 1955	 was made	 there was an investigation under section 15 of the Act in respect of the industrial undertaking in question	 and the first requirement was thus fulfilled. Learned counsel has	 however	 very strongly submitted that the second requirement was not fulfilled in the present case	 because the authorised Controller himself was in charge of the undertaking from December 18	 1952	 till November 8	 1955 (when the impugned order was made) with a small break of less than two months only between the two dates	 May 21	 1954	 when all appointments under the Act were cancelled and July 16	 1954	 when a fresh order under the Essential Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act	 1946 was made	 and 1063 even during this short period the case of the petitioners is that the authorised Controller continued in possession. Founding himself on these circumstances learned counsel for the petitioners contends that it was rationally and logically impossible for the Central Government to be of opinion that the industrial undertaking was being managed in a manner highly detrimental to the public interest	 before the impugned order was made. We are unable to accept this argument as correct. We have already referred to the legal tussle which was going on between the parties with regard to the management of the industrial undertaking in question. The Central Government very rightly pointed out in their letter dated November 8	 1952	 that the result of the differences between the parties was likely to be a stoppage of the mill and a fall in the production of sugar with consequential detriment to the interests of the industry concernedand the interests of a substantial body of consumers	 cane growers and mill workers. In view of the litigation which was pending between the parties	 the likelihood of the dangers at which the Central Government hinted in 1952 must have continued to exist	 as long as the management was not fully and completely taken over by the authorised Controller. In December 1952	 the order passed under the Essential Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act	 1946 merely gave some functions of control to the authorised Controller; it did not vest the management in him. This distinction between exercising certain functions of control	 however	 drastic the functions may be	 on an order made under sub section (4) of section 3 of the Essential Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act and the taking over of the management of the whole of an undertaking on an order under section 18A of the Act is a real distinction which must be borne in mind	 as it has a bearing on the argument advanced before us. Sub section (4) of section 3 of the Essential Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act	 1946	 authorises the Controller to exercise	 with respect to the whole or any part of the undertaking	 such functions of control as may be provided by the order; section 18A of the Act is in wider terms and empowers the 1064 Central Government to authorise any person or body of persons to take over the management of the whole or any part of the undertaking or to exercise in respect of the whole or any part of the undertaking such functions of control as may be specified in the order. Section 18B of the Act states the effect of a notified order under section 18A; in sub section (1)	 cls. (a) to (e)	 is stated the effect of taking over the management	 and in sub. section (3) is stated the effect of merely giving functions of control a distinction which is clearly drawn in the section itself. It is not difficult to conceive that in a particular industrial undertaking the mere giving of some functions of control may not be enough to meet the situation which has arisen and it may be necessary for the Central Government to pass an order taking over the management of the whole of the undertaking. In the case under our consideration	 in December	 1952	 certain functions of control were vested in the authorised Controller	 but the management of the whole undertaking was	not taken over. This continued till an investigation was ordered under section 15 of the Acton July 30	 1953. Then	 on November 14	 1953	 the authorised Controller was directed to take over the management of the whole of the industrial undertaking. This order was however cancelled on May 21	 1954	 and under section 18F of the Act	 the effect of the cancellation was to vest the management of the undertaking again in its owner the expression I owner ' meaning	 under section 3 (f) of the Act	 the person who	 or the authority which	 has the ultimate control over the affairs of the undertaking and	 where the said affairs are entrusted to a manager	 managing director or managing agent	 such manager	 managing director or managing agent. Therefore	 the legal effect of the cancellation on May 21	 1954	 was to vest the management of the Ishwari Khetan Sugar Mills Ltd.	 in the Directors and Managing Agents who were quarreling amongst themselves. On behalf of the petitioners	 it has been pointed out that Kedar Nath Khetan	 the erstwhile authorised Controller	 continued to remain in possession in spite of the cancellation order. In an affidavit filed on behalf of the Central Government	 it 1065 is stated that after the cancellation order	 Kedar Nath Khetan	 the erstwhile authorised Controller	 informed the Government of India that he was continuing in management in a capacity other than that of authorised Controller. The affidavit filed on behalf of the authorised Controller states	 however	 that between the time the Central Government directed him to hand over possession to the Directors and the time when he was again appointed on July 16	 1954	 the management of the Company remained in the hands of the Directors who were in possession of the under taking. It is not necessary for us to pronounce on these disputed facts. It is abundantly clear from the affidavits filed that peace amongst the Directors or in the family of the Managing Agents had not been restored by the time the cancellation order was made on May 21	 1954. Suit No. 4 of 1952 was still pending	 and the tussle between the parties was going on. This was the position when another order was made under the Essential Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act	 1946. 	 on July 16	 1954. This was followed by a second investigation under section 15 of the Act in September	 1954. Petitioner No. I was still pursuing what he conceived to be his legal remedy by filing a writ application in respect of the order dated July 16	 1954	 in this Court and also in other proceedings arising out of Suit No. 4 of 1952	 in the High Court of Allahabad. In these circumstances	 the Central Government made the impugned order dated November 8	 1955. Having regard to the circumstances just stated	 it is	 we think	 idle to contend that the Central Government had no materials before it for arriving at the opinion that the industrial undertaking was being managed in a manner highly detrimental to public interest. The Central Government might reasonably have felt that the order dated July 16	 1954	 which vested certain functions of control only	 was not enough to meet the situation and a more drastic step was necessary. It is worthy of note that in the affidavit filed on behalf of the Central Government it is stated that the affairs of the industrial undertaking were investigated a second 137 1066 time under section 15 of the Act in September 1954	 and the panel of officers who held that investigation recommended that Government should take over the management of the industrial undertaking for a period a of three years. It is on that recommendation that the Central Government passed the impugned order on November 8	 1955. We are unable to accept the argument of learned counsel for the petitioners that one of the essential requirements of cl. (b) of sub section (1) of section 18A of the Act was not fulfilled before the order dated November 8	 1955	 was made. Learned counsel for the petitioners has drawn our attention to those statements in the affidavit filed on behalf of the Central Government which referred to the improvement in management	 after the undertaking was taken over by the authorised Controller. In that affidavit	 it is stated : " I say that by virtue of the order issued by the Government of India under section 3(4) of the Essential Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act	 1946	 the Government of India had taken over only the supervisory control and the said Kedar Nath Khetan had only powers to issue directions to the management. The management was with the old management and the Government of India or the authorised Controller had no effective functioning in the management as the authorised Controller could not manage the undertaking. I say that in view of the continued litigation referred to in detail in the affidavit of the intervener dated 25th October	 1956	 it was apparent that the mill was being managed in a manner highly detri mental to the interests of the undertaking and that it was necessary to pass the order under section 18A of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act	 1951. 1 say that after the management was taken over by Shri Kedar Nath Khetan	 the Government has reason to believe that the management has improved and has saved further deterioration. " In another part of the same affidavit	 it is stated that the mill earned a profit during 1953 54 and in 1954 55 also the mill was likely to make a net profit of 1067 Rs. 84	321. We see nothing in these statements from which it can be inferred that the recorded opinion of the Central Government in the order dated November 8	 1955	 that the industrial undertaking was being managed in a manner highly detrimental to public interest contained a palpably false statement. The crux of the matter was the dispute inter se amongst the Directors and the Managing Agents	 leading to protracted and harassing litigation	 some of which was still pending; that was the real cause of the trouble	 and we think that the Central Government had enough materials for its opinion that the industrial undertaking in question was being managed in a manner highly detrimental to public interest. (2)We now turn to the amending order of November 7	 1956. The amending order is in these terms : " In the said order in sub clause (ii) of clause I and clause 2 for the words 'one year '	 the words two years ' shall be substituted. " Section 21 of the General Clauses Act states: " Where	 by any Central Act or Regulation	 a power to issue notifications	 orders	 rules	 or bye laws is conferred	 then that power includes a power	 exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like sanction and conditions (if any)	 to add to	 amend	 vary or rescind any notifications	 orders	 rules or bye laws so issued." The argument of learned counsel for the petitioners is that neither section 18A of the Act nor section 21 of the General Clauses Act save the amending order of November 7	 1956. There has been some argument before us with regard to the proviso to sub section (2) of section 18A of the Act	 which we have quoted in extensor in an earlier part of this judgment. That proviso	 it is contended by learned counsel for the petitioners	 refers only to an order which is initially made for a period of five years	 or	 alternatively	 which comes to an end on the expiry of a period of five years. According to him	 the proviso empowers the Central Government to continue the order after the expiry of a period of 1068 five years for such further period as may be specified in the direction given by the Central Government	 and the only safeguard is that a copy of the direction is to be laid before both Houses of Parliament. The argument of learned Counsel for the petitioners proceeds to state that the proviso has no application in the present case where the original order was made for a period of one year only and the amending order merely continued it for another year. In the view which we have taken of the substantive provisions of sub section (1) of section 18A of the Act and section 21 of the General Clauses Act	 we do not think it necessary to make any pronouncement with regard to the true scope and effect of the aforesaid proviso. In our opinion	 the amending order is protected under section 21 of the General Clauses Act read with sub sec. (1) of section 18A of the Act. Section 21 of the General Clauses Act says	 inter alia	 that the power to issue an order under any Central Act includes a power to amend the order; but this power is subject to a very important qualification and the qualification is contained in the words 'exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like sanction and conditions (if any) '. There is no dispute before us that the amending order was made in the same manner as the original order	 that is	 by means of a notified order. As no sanction is necessary for an order under section 18A	 the only question before us is whether the amending order complied with the like conditions under which the original order was made. We have already stated what are the two essential requirements of an order under cl. (b) of sub s (1) of section 18A of the Act. The argument of learned counsel for the petitioners is that those two essential conditions must be fulfilled again before any amendment of the order can be made; this	 he ureas	 is the true scope and effect of the expression 'subject to the like conditions (if any) ' occurring in section 21 of the General Clauses Act. We agree with learned counsel for the petitioners that the power to amend	 which is included in the power 1069 to make the order	 is exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like sanction and conditions (if any) as govern the making of the original order; this is stated by the section itself. It becomes necessary however	 to understand clearly the true nature of the conditions '; which have to be fulfilled before an order under el. (b) of sub section (1) of section 18A of the Act can be made. Once the true nature of those conditions is appreciated	 there is in our opinion little difficulty left in the application of section 21 of the General Clauses Act. Now	 the first condition in cl. (b) of sub section (1) of section 18A of the Act is that the industrial undertaking must be one in respect of which an investigation has been made under section 15 of the Act. Section 15 is in these terms: Where the Central Government is of the opinion that (a) in respect of any scheduled industry or industrial undertaking or undertakings (i) there has been	 or is likely to be	 a substantial fall in the volume of production in respect of any article or class of articles relatable to that industry or manufactured or produced in the industrial undertaking or undertakings	 as the case may be	 for which	 having regard to the economic conditions prevailing	 there is no justification; or (ii) there has been	 or is likely to be	 a marked deterioration in the quality of any article or class of articles relatable to that industry or manufactured or produced in the industrial undertaking or undertakings	 as the case may be	 which could have been or can be avoided; or (iii) there has been or is likely to be a rise in the price of any article or class of articles relatable to that industry or manufactured or produced in the industrial undertaking or undertakings	 as the case may be	 for which there is no justification; or (iv) it is necessary to take any such action as is provided in this Chapter for the purpose of conserving any resources of national importance which are utilised in the industry or the industrial undertaking or under. takings	 as the case may be; or 1070 (b) any industrial undertaking is being managed in a manner highly detrimental to the scheduled industry concerned or to public interest; the Central Government may make or cause to be made a full and complete investigation into the circumstances of the case by such person or body of persons as it may appoint for the purpose. " The order for investigation in this case was made under cl. (b) of section 15	 and that clause again uses the expression that the 'industrial undertaking is being managed in a manner highly detrimental to the industry concerned or to public interest 'the same expression which occurs in cl. (b) of sub section (1) of section 18A of the Act. Section 16 of the Act states	 inter alia	 that if	 after making or causing to be made any investigation under section 15	 the Central Government is satisfied that action under the section is desirable	 it may then issue certain directions which are stated in the section. It may	 however	 be that in a given case the management is so detrimental to the industry concerned or to public interest that mere directions under section 16 are not enough; in that event	 the Central Government may take over the management by an order passed under cl. (b) of sub section (1) of section 18A of the Act. There may even be a case where in spite of the directions	 no sufficient improvement has taken place and an order under sub section (1) of section 18A of the Act becomes necessary. That is why in cl. (b) of sub section (1) occurs the expression whether or not any directions have been issued to the undertaking in pursuance of section 16. ' The reason why the same expression is being managed in a manner highly detrimental etc. ' occurs both in cl. (b) of section 15 and cl. (b) of sub section (1) of section 18A of the Act is this: an investigation is ordered when the conditions mentioned in section 15 are fulfilled	 one of the conditions being that the industrial undertaking is being managed in a manner highly detrimental to the scheduled industry concerned or to public interest. On such an investigation being made	 the Central Government may issue directions under section 16; those directions may or may not improve the situation. If they do not improve the 1071 situation	 or if the mere giving of directions under section 16 is not considered sufficient to meet the situation	 the Central Government may pass an order under section 18A; but one of the requisite conditions is that the Central Government must he of opinion that the industrial undertaking is still being managed in a. manner highly detrimental to the scheduled industry concerned or to public interest. If these sections 15	 16 and 18A	 are read together	 as they must be read	 then it becomes at once clear that the condition as to the management of the industrial undertaking in a manner highly detrimental to the scheduled industry concerned or to public interest relates in its true scope and effect to a period when the management of the industrial undertaking is in the hands of its owner; that is	 to a period before the management of the whole or any part of the undertaking is taken over. Similarly	 with regard to the exercise of functions of control	 which also is contemplated by section 18A of the Act	 the condition again relates to a period before the functions of control are taken over. It would	 in our opinion	 be illogical and against the terms of sections 15	 16 and 18A of the Act to hold that the condition as to mismanagement (using the word 'mismanagement ' for the purpose of brevity and convenience	 for the correct expression	 namely	 'management in a manner highly detrimental to the scheduled industry concerned or to public interest ') can apply after the management has been taken over and during the period of its management by the authorised Controller. The contention of learned counsel for the petitioners is that whenever an amendment is made	 the test of mismanagement must again be fulfilled. Let us examine the full implications of this argument. If	 after the management is taken over	 the authorised Controller becomes seriously ill or dies in a few days when the period of the order has not expired	 the Central Government may find it necessary to appoint another person and for that purpose make an amendment. If the argument of learned counsel for the petitioners is correct	 then no amendment can be made unless the test of mismanagement is again 1072 fulfilled; but how can such a test be fulfilled when the management was in the hands of the authorised Controller till he died	 the authorised Controller being more or less in the position of an agent of the Central Government ? The argument of learned counsel for the petitioners	 pushed to its logical extreme	 will thus result in an absurdity and no amendment will ever be possible. Learned counsel for the authorised Controller has on the contrary contended that the two conditions laid down in el. (b) of sub section (1) of section 18A of the Act are not static in nature and once they are fulfilled	 they continue to have effect thereafter whatever may have happened in the meantime. The argument proceed to state that if an investigation under section 15 of the Act had once been made and if at some previous stage the industrial undertaking was mismanaged	 the two conditions continue to operate irrespective of whether the undertaking vests in the owner again for a time	 and an amendment may be made at any time and even a fresh order can be made without the necessity of a fresh investigation and a fresh mismanagement. We consider that both these are extreme views. On a proper construction of sections 15	 16 and 18A of the Act	 the correct view appears to be what we have stated earlier	 namely the two conditions	 one as to an investigation under section 15 and the other as to mismanagement	 relate to a period when the management of the industrial undertaking is legally vested in its owner	 and section 18A must be read	 with reference to the two conditions stated in el. (b) of sub section (1)	 as though the words 'while the undertaking is vested in its owner ' are present in the clause. If	 as in this case	 the management is once taken over by an order under section 18A but the order is later cancelled and the management again vests in the owner	 the two conditions must be fulfilled again before an order under el. (b) of sub section (1) of section 18A of the Act can be made. That is what happened in the present case. The management was taken over on November 14	 1953	 but the order was cancelled on May 21	 1954	 and the management vested in the owner. An 1073 investigation under section 15 of the Act was again made in September	 1954	 and the Central Government	 being satisfied that the industrial undertaking was being mismanaged in spite of the order under the Essential Supplies (Temporary Powers) Act made on July 16	 1954	 passed the impugned order on November 8	 1955. So far as the amending order of November 7	 1956	 was concerned	 the like conditions still continued to exist and there was no necessity for a fresh investigation etc.	 because the management had not since November 8	 1955	 vested in the owner	 and by their very nature the conditions continued to exist till the management went into the hands of the owner again. Having regard to the true nature of the conditions laid down in section 18A of the Act	 there was no violation of section 21 of the General Clauses Act when the amendment was made on November 7	 1956	 and	 in our opinion	 the requirements of section 21 had been substantially complied with. The power to amend which is included in the power to make the order was exercised subject to like conditions within the meaning of section 21 of the General Clauses Act	 the conditions being an investiga tion under section 15 of the Act and management in a manner highly detrimental to public interest	 both of which necessarily related to the period when the management of the industrial undertaking was legally vested in its owner; and both had been fulfilled and continued to be so fulfilled when the amendment was made. It is to be remembered that section 21 of the General Clauses Act embodies a rule of construction	 and that rule must have reference to the context and subject matter of the particular statute to which it is being applied; for example	 section 18A of the Act does not prescribe any conditions for the cancellation of an order made under that section	 but section 18F does and the power of cancellation referred to in section 21 of the General Clauses Act must have reference to section 18F. Similarly	 an order of amendment made becomes an order under section 18A and is subject to all the conditions mentioned therein	 including the condition mentioned in sub section A reference was made in this connection to a decision of this Court in Strawboard Manufacturing Co. vs Gutta 138 1074 Mill Workers ' Union (1). In that case	 the State Government of Uttar Pradesh had referred an industrial dispute to the Labour Commissioner on February 18	 1950	 and directed that the award should be submitted not later than April 5	 1950. The award	 however	 was made on April 13	 and on April 26 the Governor issued a notification extending the time for making the award up to April 30	 1950. It was held by this Court that the State Government had no authority whatever to extend the time and the adjudicator became functus officio on the expiry of the time fixed in the original order of reference and the award was	 therefore	 one made without jurisdiction and a nullity. It was further held that section 14 of the U. P. General Clauses Act did not in terms or by necessary implication give any such power of extension of time to the State Government. It was argued on behalf of the State Government in that case that the order of April 26	 1950	 could be supported with reference to section 21 of the U. P. General Clauses Act. But this Court rejected the argument and held that the power of amendment and modification conferred by section 21 of the U. P. General Clauses Act could not be exercised so as to have retrospective operation. We do not think that the principle of that decision has any application in the present case. But as already stated by us	 the provision in section 21 of	 the General Clauses Act embodies a rule of construction	 and the implied power of amendment therein embodied must be determined with reference to the context and subject matter of the provisions of the principal statute. In the present case	 that rule of construction applies	 but it does so with reference to the context and subject matter of sections 15	 16 and 18A of the Act. (3) We now turn to the third and last question which has been agitated before us. Learned counsel for the petitioners has contended that the impugned orders are not bona fide orders. He has submitted that the authorised Controller was one of the parties to the dispute which led to so much protracted litigation. (1) ; 1075 He has pointed out that there was an order of injunction against him. He has also referred to certain other circumstances arising out of other activities of the authorised Controller and relating to income tax demands against him. He has submitted that the authorised Controller ceased to be a Director by reason of breaches of certain provisions of the Indian Companies Act committed by him. These submissions have been very seriously contested in the affidavit filed on behalf of the authorised Controller. On the materials before us	 it is neither possible nor desirable that we should make any pronouncement with regard to these disputed questions of fact. It is sufficient to state that the selection of a suitable person to be the authorised Controller rests with the Central Government and it may be presumed that the Central Government knows best the needs of the particular industry and of its own subjects and the suitability of the person to be appointed as authorised Controller. Having regard to the facts and circumstances to which we have already made a reference	 it cannot be said that the appointment of Kedar Nath Khetan as the authorised Controller in this particular case was made for some ulterior purpose	 that is	 a purpose other than the purpose of achieving the objects for which the impugned order was passed. The primary concern of the Central Government was to see that the mills were managed in a manner which was not detrimental to public interest	 and having regard to the experience of Kedar Nath Khetan in the industry in question	 it was open to the Central Government to select him as the most suitable person to be appointed as the authorised Controller	 notwithstanding that he was a party to the dispute. The test to be applied in cases of this nature	 where lack of good faith in the Central Government is pleaded	 is not whether a better or more independent man was or might be available; nor is it the duty of the Court to subject the selection made by the Central Government to another and independent test of propriety and suitability	 for the Court has really no materials for such a test. The test to be applied is whether the 1076 appointment was made for some ulterior purpose	 some purpose other than the object for which the law	 under which the impugned order is made	 was enacted. In our view	 the petitioners have completely failed to satisfy that test in the present case. For the reasons given above	 we hold that the order made on November 8	 1955	 and the amending order dated November 7	 1956	 are both valid in law	 and the petitioners have not made out any case of a violation of their fundamental right. In conclusion	 it may be stated that on behalf of the authorised Controller a preliminary objection was also taken that petitioner No. 1 was not legally competent to represent petitioner No. 2. Having regard to our decision on merits	 it is unnecessary to say anything more about this preliminary objection. It was stated at the Bar that this preliminary objection has also been taken in Suit No. 4 of 1952. As that suit is still pending	 we have thought it fit to refrain from expressing any opinion on the preliminary objection. The result is that there is no merit in the petition which is dismissed with costs in favour of the respondent	 the Union of India. The authorised Controller	 who intervened at his own risk	 must bear his own costs. SARKAR J. I have had the privilege of reading the judgment just delivered by my brother section K. Das. I regret that on one of the questions that arise in this matter I have come to entertain a different opinion. In this judgment I will say a few words on that question only. With the rest of the judgment of S.K. Das J. I am in entire agreement. He has dealt with the facts very fully and therefore I do not propose to state them myself The Central Government had by an order published in the Official Gazette of November 8	 1955	 and made in exercise of the power conferred by section 18A of the Industries (Development & Regulation) Act	 1951 (LXV of 1951)	 authorised Kedar Nath Khetan who has been allowed to intervene in these proceedings to take 1077 over the management of Ishwari Khetan Sugar Mills Limited	 an industrial concern then in the management of its directors. The order provided that it was to have effect for a period of one year commencing on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. By another 2 order made on November 7	 1956	 the Central Government directed that in the order of November 8	 1955	 for the words 	one year" the words I two years ' should be substituted. The effect of this latter order was that Kedar Nath Khetain was to be in management of the Mills up to November 7	 1957. The question is whether the order of November 7	 1956 was a valid order. The latter order is only an amendment of the earlier order. Had the Central Government then any power so to amend? Section 18A does not expressly confer any power to amend an order once it is made under it. Section 21 of the General Clauses Act	 however	 provides that a power of amendment shall exist in certain circumstances. The only question therefore is whether section 21 of the General Clauses Act justifies the amendment made in this case. Section 21 is in these terms: "Where	 by any (Central Act) or Regulation	 a power to (issue notifications)	 orders	 rules or bye laws is conferred then that power includes a power	 exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like sanction and conditions (if any)	 to add to	 amend	 vary or rescind any (notifications) orders	 rules or bye laws so (issued). " Under this section a Notification or an Order once issued can be amended only "in the like manner and subject to the like sanction and conditions (if any) ". This means that the power of amendment can be exercised only in the same manner and subject to the same sanction and conditions	 if any were imposed	 in which the power to make the order could be exercised under the main Act. Was the order of November 7	 1956	 then made in the same manner and subject to the same sanction and conditions under which an order under section 18A of the main Act could be made ? Under section 18A the power to authorise a person to take over the management of an undertaking can be 1078 exercised only by a notified order	 that is to say an order notified in the Official Gazette. This is the manner of the exercise of the power. The amending Order had been made in the same manner. This requirement of section 21 of the General Clauses Act	 therefore	 was fulfilled in this case. Section 18A does not provide for any sanction being obtained before the exercise of the power conferred by it. The amending Order	 therefore	 did not need any sanction	 and no question of satisfying any requirement as to any sanction arises. The difficulty has arisen as to the last requirement specified in section 21	 namely	 that indicated by the words 'subject to like conditions '. Section 18A of the main Act so far as relevant for the present purpose is in these terms: " If the Central Government is of opinion that. . (a). . . . . . (b) an industrial undertaking in respect of which an investigation has been made under section 15 is being managed in a manner highly detrimental to the scheduled industry concerned or to public interest	 the Central Government may	 by a notified order	 authorise any person or to take over the management of the undertaking Learned counsel for the petitioner formulated his argument in this way. He said that the right to exercise the power conferred by section 18A arises only on two conditions being fulfilled	 namely	 (a) the existence of an industrial undertaking in respect of which an investigation had been made under section 15	 and (b) the Central Government being of opinion that such an undertaking is being managed in a manner highly detrimental to the industry or to public interest. It was said that in this case the second condition was not present when the order for amendment of the earlier order was made and therefore it is invalid. I agree that the second condition was not present when the amending order was made. The reason is this. Section 18A contemplates the taking over of management of an undertaking by a person authorised by the Government. It	 therefore	 contemplates a state of 1079 affairs in which the management is not in such a person. It follows that it contemplates management in a manner highly detrimental to the industry or public interest by a person other than that appointed by the Government under the Act. In this case at the 2 date of the amendment the management was in the person appointed by the Government by its earlier order of November 7	 1955	 and	 therefore	 the Government could not at the date of the amending order have been of opinion that the management was by a person other than that appointed by it and such management was in a manner highly detrimental to the industry or to public interest. In my view	 however	 when section 21 of the General Clauses Act makes the power to amend exercisable subject to the like conditions as in the main Act	 it does not contemplate those conditions upon the fulfillment of which the right to issue the order arises under the main Act. If this were so	 the power of amendment conferred by section 21 would have been wholly redundant and unnecessary. If the conditions upon the fulfillment of which the right to exercise the power arose under the main Act existed	 then the Government could have instead of amending the order made a fresh order under section 14 of the General Clauses Act	 if necessary	 rescinding the earlier order. Therefore	 it seems to me that the provision in section 21 of the General Clauses Act that the power of amendment shall be exercisable subject to like conditions does not refer to conditions upon the existence of Which the right to exercise the power arises under the main Act. In my view the conditions referred to in section 21 are the conditions to which the order issued under the main Act must be made subject. Thus	 in this case sub section 2 of section 18A provides that "any notified order issued under sub section (1) shall have effect for such period not exceeding five years as may be specified in the order". The effect of this sub section is that the order made under section 18A must be subject to the condition that it cannot have effect for a longer period than 5 years. When	 therefore	 an order once made under section 18A is sought to be amended with the 1080 aid derived from section 21 of the General Clauses Act	 the amendment must observe the condition laid down in sub section (2) of section 18A. Such amendment is subject to the conditions in the main Act. The amendment cannot	 therefore	 extend the operation of the order beyond the period of five years mentioned in the main Act. In the present case the amending order of November 7	 1956	 complied with this condition and	 therefore	 it was properly made in compliance with the provisions of section 21 of the General Clauses Act. For this reason	 in my view the argument of the learned Counsel for the petitioner that the amending order was invalid must fail. I	 therefore	 agree with the order proposed by section K. Das J. Petition dismissed.

By a notified order dated November s	 1955	 the Government of India took over the management of certain Sugar Mills under section 18A(i)(b) of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act	 1951	 for one year and vested it in a Controller. This was preceded by an investigation under section 15 of the Act and the Central Government had materials before it to be of the opinion that the management was being conducted in a manner highly detrimental to the undertaking and to public interest. On November 7	 1956	 this order was amended extending the Controller 's management for a further period of two years. It was contended on behalf of the petitioners that the requirement of section 18A(i)(b) of the Act not having been satisfied before the amending order was made	 the amendment was invalid and that	 in any event	 the appointment of the same person as the authorised Controller was not bona fide. Held	 per section R. Das C.J.	 jafer Imam	 section K. Das and Govinda Menon JJ.that section 18A of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act	 1951	 read with sections 15 and 16 of the Act and properly construed	 leaves no doubt that the two conditions mentioned in cl. (b) of sub section (i) of section 18A	 relating to investigation and mismanagement	 must relate to a period when the management of the undertaking was legally vested in its owner and once they are found to exist and the management is taken over by the Government	 the conditions continue to exist by their very nature till the management goes back to the owner; therefore	 the amending order also fulfilled the same conditions subject to which the original order was made. When a notified order under the section is sought to be amended by the application Of section 21 of the General Clauses Act	 'like conditions ' mentioned in the latter section	 to which such order of amendment must be subject	 are the two conditions relating to investigation and mismanagement mentioned ins. 18A(i)(b) of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act. 1053 Strawboard Manufacturing Co. vs Gutta Mill Workers ' Union ; 	 held inapplicable. The appointment of a suitable person as the Controller rests entirely with the Central Government and unless an appointment can be shown to have been made for any ulterior purpose contrary to what the Statute has in view	 its bona fides is not open to question. Consequently	 in the instant case	 both the original notification and its amendment were valid in law. Per Sarkar J. 'Like conditions ' mentioned in section 21 of the General Clauses Act	 when applied to section 18A of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act	 cannot mean the two conditions mentioned in cl. (b) of sub section (1) of that section on the fulfillment of which the Central Government has the right to issue a notification	 but must mean the condition mentioned in sub section (2) of that section	 subject to which alone the right to issue a notification can be exercised	 namely	 that a notified order cannot have effect for more than five years and	 consequently	 the amending order in question which satisfied that condition must be valid in law.