THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY Writ Petition No.24779 of 2008 ORDER: The petitioner submitted an application, for grant of mining lease over an extent of Ac.21.84 cents of land in Survey No.2305 of Ramadasu Kandriga Village, Venkatachalam Mandal, Nellore District, to the Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, Nellore, 4th respondent. The application is said to have been forwarded to the Tahsildar, Ozili Mandal, 3rd respondent herein, for necessary veriﬁcation and for issuance of certiﬁcate of no objection. The grievance of the petitioner is that the 3rd respondent is not taking steps on the application and instead of following the procedure prescribed in G.O.Ms.No.181, dated 28.05.1998, he has referred the matter to the District Collector, Nellore, 2nd respondent herein. He seeks appropriate directions in this regard. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader for Mines and Geology. The authority to grant leases is the Director of Mines and Geology, after the application is forwarded by the Assistant Director of Mines and Geology. The reference of the application to the revenue authorities is in a very limited context. Noticing that the veriﬁcation at the level of Mandal Revenue Oﬃcer is taking undue time, the Government issued G.O.Ms.No.181, dated 28.05.1998, directing that the Mandal Revenue Oﬃcers shall take appropriate action on the applications, whenever referred to them, within 30 days. Further, the G.O. does not make any mention of the reference of the matter to the District Collector. Under these circumstances, the writ petition is disposed of, directing that the 3rd respondent shall clear the matter at his stage and forward his report to the 4th respondent, without reference to the District Collector, within 30 days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. _________ 13.11.2008 JSU THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY Writ Petition No.24779 of 2008 Date: 13.11.2008 JSU