1. These petitions are heard and disposed of together by this common order as the allegations are similar against the petitioners.

2. The petitioners claim to be wild life biologists, architects, lawyers, coffee planters and businessmen. One of the petitioners is also a retired Range Forest Officer with an impeccable record and who is a recipient of the Chief Minister's Medal for outstanding service. They are avid nature lovers, who have been carrying on forest and wildlife conservation for over four decades and have campaigned extensively for the protection of forests in the Kudremukh area. Kudremukh forest was declared as a National Park in the year 1987, wherein ecological studies and sustained campaigns were undertaken by Dr.Ullas Karanth, who has highlighted the need to protect the bio-diversity of the area.

It is stated that the sustained campaign and initiation of the petitioners and others resulted in the Supreme Court of India imposing a total ban on mining and all ancillary activities in the Kudremukh region with effect from 31.12.2005. Following the closure of the mining operations, the former Deputy Conservator of Forests, Kudremukh has filed a series of com