JAGAN SALTS, REP. BY ITS MANAGING PARTNER, VELIPATTANAM, RAMNAD Vs. THE GOVT. OF TAMIL NADU REP. BY COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY TO GOVT., REVENUE DEPARTMENT, MADRAS,

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition is to quash the order passed by the first respondent in G.O. Ms.No.208, Revenue (D -1) Department, dated 12 -3 -1993.

(2.) The petitioner is a lessee of the Government land for the purpose of production of salt for a period of 20 years from 22 -6 -1992 over an extent of 90 acres in S.No.487 in the village of Kanjirankudi, and an extent of 40 acres in S.No.512 in the village of Thirupullani in Ramanathapuram Taluk, in all about 130 acres as per the lease agreement dated 22 -6 -1992 executed by the State of Tamil Nadu in favour of the petitioner. The annual lease rent as specified in G.O. Ms.No.1076, Revenue Department, dated 22 -6 -1992 and G.O. Ms.No.1157, Revenue Department, dated 22 -8 -1991 was being paid by the petitioner at the rate of Rs.2/ - per acre and the royalty was Re.1 per tonne of salt produced subject to a minimum of Rs.25/ - per acre. By the impugned order, the lease rent was increased from Rs.2/ - to Rs.60/ - per acre. Therefore, that increase has been challenged in this writ petition.

(3.) The Government has passed an order in G.O.Ms.No.242, Revenue Department, dated 14 -5 -1999, whereby the Government had examined the representation given by various authorities whereby the lease amount was reduced from Rs.60/ - to Rs.5/ - per acre and the royalty was fixed at Rs.2/ - per metric tonne of salt produced subject to a minimum of Rs.100/ - per acre/per annum.