THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOOTY RAMAMOHANA RAO WRIT PETITION No. 22742 of 2011 O R D E R : This Writ Petition has been instituted complaining that Respondents 3 and 4 namely, the Deputy Director of Mines & Geology, Kakinada and the Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, Eluru, West Godavari District have not considered the application submitted by the petitioner for grant of dealers registration in Form-D under the A.P. Mineral Dealers Rules, 2000. The case of the writ petitioner is that he was the highest bidder for Siddantham Reach in West Godavari District. When the auctions were conducted for grant of leasehold rights for quarrying sand, it is averred that the writ petitioner’s bid in a sum of Rs.4.15 crores was the highest and accordingly, it was accepted. He also executed an agreement in Form-G1 of the A.P. Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1966 on 08.04.2011, after making deposit of the entire first year leasehold amount of Rs.4.15 crores. It is submitted that the writ petitioner has filed an application in Form-A under the A.P. Mineral Dealers Rules, 2000 on 06.05.2011. Complaining that this application has not been disposed of so far, the present Writ Petition has been instituted. It will be appropriate to notice that the application submitted for storage of sand under the A.P. Mineral Dealers Rules, 2000 is required to be processed by the Deputy Director of Mines and Geology. Sub-Rule (2) of Rule 5 makes it clear that the Deputy Director of Mines and Geology shall grant a dealers registration in Form-D for a period of five years within 30 days from the date of receipt of the application. In case of refusal or rejection of the application, the reason shall be recorded in writing and communicated to the applicant within 30 days from the date of receipt of the application. It is therefore, incumbent upon the Deputy Director of Mines and Geology to have dealt with the application submitted by the writ petitioner on 06.05.2011 in accordance with law and ought to have been disposed of by now. Since more than 30 days time has already elapsed, it is only appropriate that Respondent No.3, the Deputy Director of Mines and Geology, Kakinada should be directed to deal with the application submitted by the writ petitioner, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of two weeks from today and communicate the decision taken thereon to the writ petitioner immediately. With this, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs. ---------------------------------------------- (NOOTY RAMAMOHANA RAO, J) 19th August 2011 Issue CC in three days. ksld