(1.) The above mentioned writ petitions have been filed before this Court by the writ petitioners disputing the legality and validity of the search and seizure operations carried out by the respondent authorities on different dates. The writ petitions pose common question of law on identical facts and, therefore, are being disposed of by this common judgment.
(2.) Mr. S.S. Ray, learned senior counsel appeared for the writ petitioners in W.P.(C) Nos.1552/2000, 137/2000, 6965/2000, 7008/2000, 2889/2001, 2890/2001, 8647/ 2001 and 8648/2001 along with Mr. K.N. Choudhury, learned senior counsel and assisted by Mr. S. Shyam, learned counsel. Mr. P. Upadhaya, learned counsel appeared for the petitioner in W.P.(C) No.3729/2001. The respondent authority have been represented by Shri R.P. Agarwal, learned senior counsel assisted by Mr. U. Bhuyan, learned counsel.
(3.) At the very outset, for convenience, the facts in each case and the stand of the Revenue are proposed to be reflected in brief. Facts in W.P.(C) No. 1552 of 2000 :