(This Writ petition is filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India praying to declare that the respondents have no authority to impose or levy and demand any forest lease rent supervision charges and forest development tax in respect of schedule mining leases for competence under any State of Central Enactment to make such a Demand).

Common questions of fact and that of law arise for decision making hence with the consent of learned counsel for the parties, the petitions are clubbed together, finally heard and are disposed of by this common order.

2. Thepetitioners are in possession of forest land in Bellary District to mine iron ore under registered lease deeds executed by the State of Karnataka. The State Government, by letter dt. 4/5.7.1974

imposed a lease rent of Rs.250/- per acre (Rs.625/- per hectare), per annum and by Govt. Order No. FEE 52-FM-94 dt. 21.5.1997 enhanced the lease rent to Rs.5,000/- and in addition, imposed supervision charges at Rs.187.50, per hectare, of the leased land. By another Govt. Order bearing No.APG 69-FFM-96 dt. 29.8.1997 the lease rent was revised thus:

(a) for the first 5 years :Rs. 1,000/-

(b) for the next 5-10 years