T V BALAKRISHNAN Vs. STATE OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellants-petitioners sought a declaration from the High court that Rules 1-A (3 (b) , 2, 3 (ii) and 7 (4 of the Tamil Nadu Timber Transit Rules, 1968 (the Rules) were void, unconstitutional and as such unenforceable against the appellants-petitioners. The Rules have been framed by the State government under S. 35 and 36 of the Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1882. A division bench of the High court by its judgment dated 14/6/1984 dismissed the bunch-petitions rejecting all the points raised by the petitioners. These appeals by way of special leave are against the judgment of the High court.

(2.) The legality of the Rules was challenged before the High court on the following grounds:

(3.) So far as the first point is concerned, the precise argument was that the Rules can be framed only in respect of certain local areas and not for the entire State. The High court rejected the argument on the following reasoning: