Judgment :-

K.S. Radhakrishnan, J.

1. These Special Leave Petitions arise out of a common judgment and order dated 15.2.2013 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Madras in W.A. (MD) Nos.906 and 907 of 2012. The Petitioner is a registered partnership firm, engaged in the manufacture of dimensional granite blocks, slabs, tiles, monuments etc. and has set up its factory for cutting and polishing of granite in Therkkutheru Village, Madurai District. The Petitioner firm, it is stated, is 100% export oriented unit, recognized by the Madras Export Processing Zone. The Petitioner firm is having 55 granite quarries leased in the Madurai District measuring about 584.83 acres.

2. Alleging that the Petitioner firm had indulged in unauthorized quarrying, the Respondent officials as well as the District Collector and Superintendent of Police took steps to seal the Petitioners’ factory premises, vehicles and instruments so as to suspend the quarrying operations in respect of the above-mentioned quarries. The Petitioners, therefore, approached the Madras High Court by filing W.P. (MD) Nos.12441 and 12442 of 2012, which were heard by a learned Single Judge.

3. Before the learned Single Judge, the