COMMON JUDGMENT

(Per :- Dr. ANITA SUMANTH.,J)

This common order disposes 32 matters, 19 Writ Appeals and 13 Writ Petitions, nine pertaining to the Principal seat and four pertaining to the Madurai Bench.

2. The Writ Appeals challenge various orders of the Writ Court, the first of which has been passed in the case of State of Tamil Nadu and others V. Dalmia Cements (Bharath) Ltd. and others, [1W.P.Nos.4373 of 2000 dated 20.11.2019]. In all the writ petitions, the prayers were either for Writs of Certiorari or Certiorarified Mandamus challenging the demands raised by the respondents under the provisions of Section 72 of the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960 (in short ‘Rules’) in relation to levy of surface compensation to the State, in respect of the mines operated by the appellants/petitioners.

3. In all cases, it is the private party/lessee, which is the petitioner/appellant before us, and by and large, the State has been arrayed as the first respondent and the Revenue authorities of the respective Districts have been arrayed as the subsequent respondents.

4. The detailed submissions of Mr.R.Sankara Narayanan and Mr.Srinath Sridevan, learned Senior Counsel, both appearing for Mr.AR.Ramanat