Dipak Kumar Sen, J. - (1.) Hundraj Mariwalla, the petitioner, herein carries on the business of manufacturing of bricks. For such manufacture the petitioner obtains ordinary earth from 4.22 acres of land under different plots under different khatians in Mouza Kumrakhali, P.S. Sonarpur, Dist. 24-Parganas. In 1969 the petitioner obtained a permit from the Additional District Magistrate, 24-Parganas for digging and using earth from the said lands for manufacturing; bricks, which has since been successively renewed. The final renewal was up to the 31st March 1975. One of the terms of the said permit is as follows: -- "The Raiyat shall not himself, or permit any person to quarry or dig or use any earth or clay from his land except under a lease granted under the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957 (Act No. 67 of 1957)."
(2.) On the 21st May 1971 the Additional District Magistrate served a notice on the petitioner directing him to take out a mining lease under the West Bengal Mines and Minerals Rules, 1959, within a month from the date of receipt of the said notice. The petitioner submitted a written objection thereto. Subsequently on the 2nd March 1974 the Additional District Magistrate again served another notice on the petitioner calling upon him to take out a mining lease under the West Bengal Mines and Minerals Rules, 1959 to which the petitioner again objected in writing. Finally, the Additional District Magistrate issued an order on the 7th May 1975 directing the petitioner to apply for a quarry permit under Rule 25 of the West Bengal Minor Minerals Rules, 1973 on or before the 20th May 1975. It was stated that on the petitioner's failing to comply with the order legal action will be taken against the petitioner. In the present application the petitioner has sought to impugn the said two notices dated the 2lst May 1971 and the 2nd March 1974 as also the said order dated the 7th May 1975. The petitioner contends that he uses ordinary earth for the purpose of manufacture of bricks which is neither a mineral nor a minor mineral within the meaning of the Minor Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957 or of the West Bengal Minor Minerals Rules, 1973.
(3.) The petitioner's grounds for impugning the said two notices and the order are, inter alia, as follows:-- (a) Ordinary earth used for brick making does not come within the definition of minor minerals as laid down in Section 3 (e) of the Mines & Mineral (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957; (b) The Rules so far as they provide for taking out a licence and paying royalty for digging of ordinary earth are ultra vires the rule making power conferred by the Mines and Mineral (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957.;