(1.) Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 1053 of 1975 has been filed by the petitioners for quashing an order of the State Government, dated the 22nd October, 1974, enhancing the rate of royalty payable by the petitioners in respect of the right granted to them for collection and exploitation of Sal seeds from the forest area belonging to the State Govt., a copy of which is Annexure "8" to the writ application. The said order was communicated to the petitioners by a letter, dated the 2nd November, 1974, under the signature of the Chief Conversator of Forests. A copy of this letter is Annexure "7" to the writ application. According to the petitioners, the revision of the rate of royalty by the respondent State during the subsistence of the lease in question was without any authority in law.
(2.) Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 1054 of 1975 has been filed by the same set of petitioners for quashing the decision of the State Government cancelling the aforesaid lease itself for contravention of the terms thereof. The said decision was communicated to the Chief Conservator of Forests under a letter, dated the 15th March, 1975, with a copy to the petitioner No. 1. A copy of the said letter is Annexure "6" to the writ application.
(3.) As common questions of law and fact are involved in these two writ applications, with the consent of the parties, they have been heard together and are being disposed of by this common judgment.