IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY, THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF NOVEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO : 24760 of 2008 Between: G.Sathi Babu s/o.Subba Rao R/o.Balabhadrapuram (V), Biccavolu Mandal, East Godavari District. ..... PETITIONER AND 1 The Deputy Director of Mines and Geology, East Godavari District at Kakinada. 2 The Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, Gandhipuram- 3, Rajahmundry, East Godavari District. 3 The Tahsildar, Addateegala, East Godavari District. .....RESPONDENT(S) 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 to issue appropriate writor order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents 1 & 2 in not granting quarry lease in respect of the land to an extent of Hec.3.00 in Sy.No.207/1 of Gonthuvanipalem Village, Addateegala Mandal, East Godavari District in pursuance of the application made by the petitioner dt. 23.1.2006 for grant of quarry lease to quarry road metal as wholly illegal, arbitrary and discriminatory and consequently direct the respondents 1 & 2 to grant quarry lease in favour of the petitioner and to pass such other order or orders. Counsel for the Petitioner:MR.K.VENKATESH Counsel for the Respondent No.: GP FOR MINES AND GEOLOGY The Court made the following : THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY W.P.No.24760 of 2007 ORDER: The petitioner complains that he made application on 23.1.2006 to the Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, Gandhipuram-3, Rajahmundy, East Godavari District with a request to grant mining lease, to quarry Road Metal and Building Stones for 3.00 hectors land, in Survey No.207/1 of Gonthuvanipalem Village, Addateegala Mandal, East Godavari District. He submits that the Gram Panchayat, Gonthuvanipalem village, gave its consent for the grant of lease, and still, no action has been taken on the application, by the respondents so far. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader for Mines and Geology. The Andhra Pradesh Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1966 prescribe the procedure for grant or renewal of lease to quarry minor minerals, such as road metal and building stones . Nearly 2 ½ years have elapsed, ever since petitioner had made application. If the application made by the petitioner is defective, the respondents ought to have returned the same and there is no justification in keeping the application pending, indefinitely. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of, directing respondents 1 and 2 to consider the application of the petitioner and pass appropriate orders thereon, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. ____________________ L.NARASIMHA REDDY, J 13-11-2008 Stp ..... REGISTRAR // TRUE COPY // SECTION OFFICER To 1.2CCs to 2.2CD copies Form-NIC-OGS/WP{KURR}