The present petition has been filed challenging the validity of the

Circular

No.F-19-192/92/12/2

dated

15.03.1993

issued

by

the

Department of Mineral Resources, Government of Madhya Pradesh,

Bhopal (M.P.), whereby the procedure has been laid down for

computation of the stamp duty exigible, inter alia, for execution of a fresh

deed of mining lease prescribed in Form “K” under Rule 31 of the

Mineral Concession Rules, 1960.

2.

It is the case of the petitioners that the petitioner No.1/Company

which is registered under the Companies Act, 1956 owns a Cement

Industrial Undertaking in the name and style as M/s. Satna Cement

Works, Tehsil Raghuraj Nagar, District Satna in the State of Madhya

Pradesh. Petitioner No.2 is the shareholder of the petitioner No.1 carrying

on business through the agency of the petitioner No.1. The cement units

are registered under the Factories Act, 1948 for using limestone as a

major raw material for manufacture of cement. Looking to the

3

requirement of mineral for production of cement, the petitioner No.1

applied for grant of lease of limestone under the relevant provisions of

the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957

(hereinafter referred