JUDGMENT

B.P. Jeevan Reddy, J.

1. Tarun Bharat Sangh, a voluntary organisation interested inter alia in protection of environment, approached this Court complaining that widespread illegal mining activity was going on in the area declared as Tiger Reserve in Alwar district of Rajasthan. In the interest of ecology, environment and rule of law, it said, the activity should stop.

2. The petitioners case is that the area wherein the illegal mining is going on has been declared as a tiger reserve under Rajasthan Wild Animals and Birds Protection Act, 1951, as a sanctuary and a National Park under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and as protected forest under the Rajasthan Forest Act, 1953. These various notifications, said the petitioner, prohibit all or any mining activity and yet the Government of Rajasthan had granted hundred of licorices for mining marble, dolomite and other minerals in late 1980s, contrary to law.

3. After issuing notices to the Government of Rajasthan and the mine-owners (which expression is used in this order to denote lessees and licencees under the leases and licences granted by the State of Rajasthan), this Court gave certain directions on October II, 1991. A