THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE R.SUBHASH REDDY WRIT PETITION No.1643 of 2011 ORDER: Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Mines and Geology appearing for the respondents. The petitioner submitted an application to the first respondent – Director of Mines and Geology, Hyderabad, through the second respondent – Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, Karimnagar, for grant of quarry lease for colour granite, which is a minor mineral under the Andhra Pradesh Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1966, in an extent of 6.00 hectares of land in Survey No.198 of Nawabpet Village, Chigurumamidi Mandal, Karimnagar District, on 08.06.2010. Thereupon, the second respondent has called for no objection certificate from the fourth respondent – Tahsildar, Chigurumamidi Mandal, Karimnagar District, with regard to categorization and classification of the land in question. The fourth respondent by letter, dated 30.08.2010, addressed to the second respondent, sent his report for grant of quarry lease in favour of the petitioner as per the sketch showing location of Acs.7.20 cents of land. It is the grievance of the petitioner that in spite of receipt of no objection certificate from the fourth respondent, the second respondent is not forwarding the same to the first respondent to consider its application for grant of quarry lease, without any reason. On the other hand, based on the written instructions, it is submitted by the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Mines and Geology, appearing for the respondents that though there was no objection certificate furnished by the fourth respondent, a copy of the same was marked to the third respondent – District Collector, Karimnagar, as such, apprehending objection from the third respondent, the application of the petitioner has not been forwarded by the second respondent to the first respondent. For expedite disposal of the applications filed for prospecting license/mining lease, the Government issued guidelines in G.O.Ms.No.181, dated 28.05.1998, fixing time frames at various stages for considering such applications. Clauses 3 and 4 of the said G.O. read as under: “3. The Mandal Revenue Officer will send his report to the Assistant Director of Mines and Geology within a period of 30 days duly marking a copy of his report to District Collector. The reports of the Mandal Revenue Officer need not be routed through intermediate level of Revenue Divisional Officer/Sub- Collector. 4. If the District Collector is in agreement with the report of the Mandal Revenue Officer, he need not make any further report to Director of Mines and Geology. However, if the District Collector disagrees with the recommendations of the Mandal Revenue Officer, he will send his recommendations to the Director of Mines & Geology within 30 days from the date of receipt of report from Mandal Revenue Officer. In case no report is received from District Collector, within 30 days, it will be assumed that the Collector has no objection in grant of Prospecting License/Mining Lease or Quarry Lease.” From the aforesaid guidelines, it is clear that if there are any objections by the District Collector on the no objection certificate sent by the Tahsildar, it is for the District Collector to make his recommendations directly to the Director of Mines and Geology, but once no objection certificate is issued by the Tahsildar, the Assistant Director of Mines and Geology cannot withhold the same. In that view of the matter, the writ petition is disposed of with the direction to the second respondent to forward the application of the petitioner along with the no objection certificate/opinion sent by the fourth respondent, to the first respondent to consider and take steps in accordance with law. It is made clear that if there is any objection from the third respondent, it is open to him to send his recommendations in the light of Clause 4 of G.O.Ms.No.181, dated 28.05.1998. No order as to costs. ______________________ R.SUBHASH REDDY, J 31st JANUARY, 2011. kvni