HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE GODA RAGHURAM AND HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE RAMESH RANGANATHAN WRIT PETITION Nos.15217 of 2007 and 13189 and 14455 of 2009 COMMON ORDER:(per Hon'ble Sri Justice Ramesh Ranganathan) These writ petitions are filed questioning the auction notification dated 25.06.2007, inviting bids for grant of sand quarry leases, on the ground that prior ground water clearance had not been obtained. The auction notification was issued on 25.06.2007 inviting bids for grant of lease for a period of two years i.e. upto 31.03.2009. The auction was held on 27.07.2007 and the successful bidder was granted seven days time to pay the remaining 75% lease amount in addition to the 25% already paid by him as Earnest Money Deposit. Even before expiry of the seven day period this Court, by its order dated 03.08.2007 in WPMP.No.19179 of 2007 in W.P.No.15217 of 2007, granted interim stay and, as a result, no lease agreement was entered into with the successful bidder. While matters stood thus, temporary permits were issued in favour of the fifth respondent - A.P. Mineral Development Corporation, which was subjected to challenge by the successful bidder in the auction held on 27.07.2007. This Court, by an interim order, directed that no temporary permits shall be granted in favour of the fifth respondent until further orders. As the impugned auction notification was for grant of lease till the financial year ending 31.03.2009, and since the said period has already elapsed, we see no reason to now adjudicate the various contentions raised in these writ petitions. The Writ Petitions have become infructuous and are, accordingly, dismissed. Needless to state that the successful bidder, in the auction held on 27.07.2007, is entitled to file an application seeking refund of the Earnest Money Deposit paid by him and the said application shall be considered and disposed of by the Government, within a period of four weeks from the date of filing such application, in accordance with law. No order as to costs. GODA RAGHURAM,J RAMESH RANGANATHAN,J Date:11.06.2010 usd