IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY, THE TWENTY THIRD DAY OF OCTOBER TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO : 23117 of 2008 Between: M/s.Karunamai Granites, rep.by its Proprietor Sri Gugulouth Devilal,S/o.Deshya Errabelligudem vilalge, Nellikuduru Mandal Warangal District-506368 ..... PETITIONER AND 1 The Director of Mines &Geology, 8th floor, BRKR Buildings Tank Bund Road, Hyderabad-500029 2 The Deputy Director of Mines & Geology,Warangal Region 2-7-109,Central Excise Colony,Subedari,Hanamkonda Warangal -506001 3 The Assistant Director of Mines &Geology, H.No.1-7- 778, Shanti Nagar colony,New Warangal Public School Hunter Road,Hanamkonda, Warangal-506001 4 The Tahsildar,Nellikduru Mandal, Warangal District- 506368 5 The REvenue Divisional Officer,Mahabubabad-506101 6 The Collector, Warangal District-506001 7 The Assistant Director of Survey & Land Records O/o.The Collectorate Warangal District-506001 .....RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the Aﬃdavit ﬁled herein the High Court will be pleased to issue a writ order or direction more so one in the nature of mandamus declaring the inaction of the respondent Nos.1 to 7 in not disposing of the Quarry Lease Application dated 26.2.2007 of the petitioner ﬁrm for extract of the Mineral- Black Granite in an extent of 3 Hectares in Sy.No.225 /1 (later corrected as 225/120 vide affidavit dated 27.4.2007) of Errabelligudem village, Nellikuduru Mandal, Warangal District as illegal, arbitrary,. violative of the provisions of the Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act,1957 and the Rules made thereunder apart from being violative of G.O.Ms.No.181 Industries & Commerce (M-I) Department dated 28.5.1998 and consequently direct the respondents No.1 to 7 to dispose of the Quarry Lease Application dated 26.2.2007 of the petitioner ﬁrm in a time bound manner in the interest of Mineral Development law and justice. Counsel for the Petitioner:MR.PANNALA.SRINIVAS Counsel for the Respondents : GP FOR MINES AND GEOLOGY The Court made the following : ORDER: The petitioner submitted an application for grant of mining lease to quarry black granite over an extent of three hectares in survey No.225/1 of Errabelligudem Village, Nellikuduru Mandal, Warangal District, on 26.02.2007. Subsequently, when it realized that the actual survey number has to be applied for by it as 225/120, it submitted an aﬃdavit to that eﬀect on 27.04.2007. The petitioner states that recently certain steps were taken by the department of Mines and Geology to identify the land applied for by it, particularly in the context of mining activity undertaken by M/s. Venkateswara Granites, the immediate neighbourhood. It is stated that though a joint survey was conducted, substantial progress was not made, and the respondents are not taking any steps to process the application of the petitioner. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Government Pleader for Mines and Geology. The petitioner earlier approached this Court by filing W.P.No.27931 of 2007, complaining about the inaction of the respondents. The writ petition was disposed of on 01.04.2008 directing that a joint inspection and survey be conducted and the land in survey No.225/120 and the one in 264/1 of the village be surveyed. It is not clear as of now as to what steps have been taken, in pursuance of the directions issued by this Court in W.P.No.27931 of 2007. Be that as it may, the application of the petitioner cannot be kept pending indeﬁnitely. If any additional information is required, respondents 1 to 3 can inform the petitioner about the same. Therefore, the Writ Petition is disposed of, directing respondents 1 to 3 to take necessary steps on the application of the petitioner within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. ____________________ Dt.23.10.2008 L.NARASIMHA REDDY, J Note: Furnish C.C. in three days. (B/o) GJ