IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE EIGHTEENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRIT PETITION NO : 5790 of 2008 Between: T. Gunasekhar Naidu, S/o. Ramanaidu, Hindu, R/o. Pilligundlapalli (V), Mangunta Post, S.R. Puram Mandal, Chittoor District. ..... PETITIONER AND 1 The Director of Mines & Geology, Andhra Pradesh, at Hyderabad. 2 The Deputy Director of Mines & Geology, Kadapa, Kadapa District. 3 The Assistant Director of Mines & Geology, Chittoor, Chittoor District. 4 The District Collector, Chittoor, chitttoor District. 5 The Tahsildar, S.R. Puram, Mandal, Chittoor District. 6 B. Nagarjuna, S/o. Doraswamy Naidu, R/o. 2-104, Gurunagar Colony, Chittoor, Chittoor District. .....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 particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus: declare the action on the part of the respondents 1 to 3 in non processing the application of the Petitioner Dt. 31- 8-2007 for grant of quarry lease of Colour Granite over an extent of 1.000 Htrs in S.No. 325/1 of Katikapalli Village, S.R. Puram Mandal, Chittoor District and by processing the application of the 6th respondent, Dt. 6-9-2007 amounts to erroneous, arbitrary and violative Art. 14, 19 and 21 of Constitution of India and consequently direct the Official respondents to process the application of the Petitioner for grant of quarry lease of Colour Granite over an extent of 1.000 Htrs in S.No. 325/1 of Katikapalli Village, S.R. Puram Mandal, Chittoor District without any further delay in the interest of justice. Counsel for the Petitioner: Mr.T.C.KRISHNAN Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR MINES AND GEOLOGY & GP FOR REVENUE The Court made the following : ORDER: Petitioner seeks a writ of mandamus declaring the action of the respondents 1 to 3 in not processing the application of the petitioner, dated 31-08-2007, for grant of quarry lease of Colour Granite over an extent of 1.000 hectares in Sy.No.325/1 of Katikapalli village, S.R.Puram mandal, Chittoor District, and processing the application of the 6th respondent, dated 06-09-2007, as illegal and arbitrary. 2. Heard the counsel. 3. The grievance of the petitioner is that he gave an application to the respondents 2 and 3 on 31-08-1007 for grant of quarry lease of Colour Granite and at the very same time the 6th respondent also gave an application for grant of the very same quarry lease, but however, respondents are processing the application of the 6th respondent ignoring the claim/application of the petitioner and hence, he approached this Court and filed the present Writ Petition. 3. When once the application is received the authorities are duty-bound to process it, if it is in accordance with law, and ultimately the quarry lease may be given to anybody but they cannot keep the application given by the petitioner in abeyance. If the application of the petitioner is in accordance with law and satisfies the requirements, the authorities may process it along with the application of the 6th respondent. 4. Accordingly, Writ Petition is disposed of at the stage of admission. There shall be no order as to costs. _______________________ T.GOPALAKRISHNA,J 18th March, 2008 Tsy To 1 The Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Revenue, Secretariat Buildings, Hyderabad. 2 The Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Irrigation, Secretariat Buildings, Hyderabad. 3 The Collector, Krishna District, Machilipatnam. 4 The Revenue Divisional Officer-cum- Land Acquisition Officer, Gudivada, Krishna District, A.P.