( 1 ) ALL these four writ petitions involve common question of law; therefore, they are being disposed of by this common order. For convenient disposal of all the petitions, facts given in Writ Petition No. 487 of 1998 are taken into consideration.

( 2 ) THE petitioner by this petition has prayed that by appropriate writ or order or direction, letter dated 14-1-1997 issued by Collector, Bastar (Annex. P-1), order dated 30-5-1997 passed by Additional tahsildar demanding a sum of Rs. 18,58,61,568. 00 (Annex. P-2), order dated 17-12-1997 passed by Minister for Mineral resources, Department of Madhya Pradesh (Annex. P-3) and letter of the Collector dated 8-1-1998 (Annex. P-4) claiming royalty on iron ore slimes may be quashed.

( 3 ) THE petitioner is a Company registered under the Companies Act. It is a Government Company,- an undertaking of the Central Government. The petitioner Company obtained a mining lease measuring area 672. 25 from the State Government in the year 1965 for extracting iron ore. It started production in the year 1977. Iron Ore is found in the shape of hills and these hills are blasted and the blasted material turns into boulders, fragments, fines