HRISHIKESH ROY, J.

1. Heard Sri.Harish Vasudevan, the learned counsel for the petitioner. Sri. Nagaraj Narayanan, Special Government Pleader (Forest), appears for the State authorities. Learned Senior Counsel, Sri. S.Sreekumar represents respondents 13, 14 and 22. The additional respondent No.24 is represented by Sri.Bechu Kurian Thomas, learned Senior Counsel. The learned counsel Sri.T.M.Chandran represents the respondent No.15.

2. The petitioner is a registered voluntary organisation, working towards the protection and improvement of forest areas and to safeguard the interest of environment in Kerala. The focus of their interest in this case is the conservation of the hill, "Muniyattukunnu", which is part of Reserve Forest and where quarrying activities of respondents 13 to 23 are going on, destroying the forest and endangering the "Dolmens" or "Muniyaras", which are ancient monuments of Megalithic Era.

3. The Muniyattukunnu hillock is situated in Varantharappilly Panchayath in Mupliyam Village in Thrissur District and the concern for the preservation and protection of