25wp1450.11.odt 1 . IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR Writ Petition No.1450 of 2011 (M/s. Hira Power and Steels Ltd. vs. State and Ors.) Office Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, appearances, Court's orders or directions and Registrar's orders. Court's or Judge's orders Coram: D. D. Sinha and A. P. Bhangale, JJ. Date : 02/05/2011. Heard Mr.Rajan K. Singh, Adv., Mr.Manoj Rajan Pillai, Adv. and Mr.Vinod Chawade, Adv. for the Petitioner and Mr.N.S.Khubalkar, Assistant Government Pleader for respondent nos. 1 to 3. In the instant petition, the petitioner is seeking direction simplicitor to the respondents to take a decision on the application of the petitioner dt. 3.12.2008 which is submitted by the petitioner for grant of mining lease under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, which is pending for decision, within a stipulated period and has further prayed that, in the meantime, parties may be directed to maintain status-quo till then. The Assistant Government Pleader does not have any objection so far as deciding of the application on merits is concerned. However, 25wp1450.11.odt 2 . he has opposed the request for grant of status- quo. In the backdrop of the above referred facts and considering pendency of the application before the respondents since 2008, in the interest of justice, we dispose of the petition with a direction to the respondents to decide the application of the petitioner dt.3.12.2008 submitted by the petitioner in accordance with the law and procedure applicable in this regard, as early as possible, in any case not beyond the period of four weeks from the date of communication of this order. Till then, the parties to maintain status-quo. Counsel for the petitioner, at this stage, has submitted that, if the order is adverse to the petitioner, the respondents may be directed not to give effect to the said order for a period of one week. The request is opposed by the Assistant Government Pleader. If the order is adverse to the petitioner, in the interest of justice, same may not be given effect to for a period of one week from the date of passing of this order. This direction shall cease to operate automatically after expiry of one week. JUDGE JUDGE jais