Since the issue involved in these writ petitions is common, they are disposed of by this common order.

2. Heard Mr. AR.L.Sundararesan, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr. R.Muthukumarasamy, learned Advocate General appearing for the respondents.

3. The case of the petitioner, in brief, is as follows:-

The petitioner is carrying trade in beach mineral mining for the past 25 years and recognising the petitioner's trade, the Government of Tamil Nadu and Government of India awarded many awards. The petitioner is also having 100% export oriented unit as well as special economic zone units. The petitioner has established number of factories in Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Tuticorin Districts wherein all the quarried minerals are used in the factories as raw material and the finished products were exported to overseas countries and the petitioner is also earning much needed foreign exchange to the nation. It is further stated that earlier the petitioner submitted mining lease applications before the District Collector many villages in and around, Tirunelvel