R. BANUMATHI, J.

Writ Appeals except W.A.No.716 of 1999:

1. These Writ Appeals arise out of common order in W.P.Nos.24199 of 2001 etc., batch, whereby the learned single Judge struck down Rule 8-A of the Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1959 as amended by G.O.Ms.No.86, Industries/MMC, dated 22.2.2001 is contrary to the Granite Conservation and Development Rules, 1999, as the State Government has not carried out the scheme of Granite Conservation and Development Rules and ultra vires Section 18 of Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957. Since all the Writ Appeals arise out of common order and the Writ Petitions also involve determination of same points, the Writ Petitions and all the Writ Appeals were heard together and disposed off by this common judgment.

2. For conservation and systematic development of and scientific mining to conserve the granite resources and to prescribe a uniform frame-work with regard to systematic and scientific exploitation of granite throughout the Country, Government of India introduced the Granite Conservation and Development Rules, 1999 (in short, "GCD Rules") and it came into effect from 1.6.1999. Introduction of p