All these petitions are taken up for final disposal with consent of learned counsel for the respective parties.

2 That Special Civil Application No.14354 of 2011 is taken up as a lead matter, as facts stated therein form basis of the contentions canvassed by the learned counsels appearing for the respective parties in other matters also.

3 The petitioners have challenged in all these petitions the guidelines No.CGM/ML/QL/Disposal/11/3863 issued by the respondent No.2 – Commissioner of Geology and Mines Department, State of Gujarat, and prayed to dispose of the applications made by the petitioners in accordance with provisions contained in Mines and Minerals [Development & Regulation] Act, 1957, read with Gujarat Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2010. The petitioners have also prayed to quash and set aside the public advertisement dated 21.08.2011 / 27.07.2011 issued by the respondent No.4.

4 It is the case of the petitioners that they are in the business of excavation of `ordinary sand' within the revenue limits of Panchmahals District. The petitioners were interested to obtain quarry lease on the river bed of `Panam', and accordingly, applications were submitted for allotm