IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) FRIDAY, THE TWENTY SIXTH DAY OF DECEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE VILAS V. AFZULPURKAR WRIT PETITION NO : 28290 of 2008 Between: M/s. Laksmi Mining Company, Rep. by its Partner Smt.N. Latha W/o. N. Sudhaker Reddy, Flat NO. 204, Eiswarya Apartments, Nehru Nagar , Kurnool,. Kurnool District. ..... PETITIONER AND 1 The Government of India Rep. by Secretary to the Government Ministry of Mines, New Delhi. 2 The Government of Andhra PRadesh Rep. by Secretary to the Government Industries and Commerce Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad, A.P. 3 The Director of Mines and Geology BRKR Bhavan, 8th Floor, Tank Bund Road, Hyderabad, A.P. 4 The Assistant Director of Mines and Geology Kurnool, Kurnool District, A.P. 5 The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Department of Forests, Aranya Bhavan, Hyderabad 6 The Divisional Forest Officdr Kurnool, Kurnool 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 an order or writ more particularly in the nature of writ of Mandamus declaring the action of Respondents in not granting the mining lease in favour of the petitioner on his application dt. 17-3-2008 for mining over 1000 hectares in Compartment Nos. 188 and 189 of Mettupalli, R.F. Dhone Range , Kurnool Division, Kurnool District, A.P. as arbitrary illegal, unjust and violation of Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act 1957 Mineral Concession Rules 1960 and G.O.Ms.No. 181 Industries & Commerce dt. 28-5-1998 and pass Counsel for the Petitioner:MR.VENKAT REDDY DONTHI REDDY Counsel for the Respondent No.: GP FOR MINES AND GEOLOGY The Court made the following : THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE VILAS V. AFZULPURKAR WRIT PETITION NO. 28290 of 2008 ORDER: The petitioner has applied for mining lease under application dated 17.3.2008 and it is acknowledged by Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, Kurnool. It is alleged that the entire survey and demarcation work has already been completed and all other requirements for consideration of the petitioner’s application have been fulfilled. A report by Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, Kurnool is also said to have been submitted through the Zonal Joint Director, Mines and Geology, Kadapa to the Director of Mines and Geology and the said application is said to be pending with the third respondent without passing any orders. Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the matter is fully covered by the instructions of the Government issued under G.O.Ms.No.181, Industries & Commerce, dated 28.5.1998. The counsel has also placed the orders of this Court in similar writ petitions wherein directions were given to the Director of Mines and Geology to dispose of the applications of the petitioners therein expeditiously in accordance with law within a fixed time frame. Having heard the learned Government Pleader for Mines and Geology, I deem it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition with similar direction. The Director of Mines and Geology, third respondent herein is directed to consider and dispose of the application of the petitioner dated 17.3.2008 with respect to the area applied for therein within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. ______________________ DECEMBER, 26, 2008 VILAS V. AFZULPURKAR, J. Tsr. Copy to: 1 The Secretary to the Government, Govt. of India, Ministry of Mines, New Delhi. 2 The Secretary to the Government of A.P., Industries and Commerce Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad, A.P. 3 The Director of Mines and Geology BRKR Bhavan, 8th Floor, Tank Bund Road, Hyderabad, A.P. 4 The Assistant Director of Mines and Geology Kurnool, Kurnool District, A.P. 5 The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Department of Forests, Aranya Bhavan, Hyderabad 6 The Divisional Forest Officdr Kurnool, Kurnool District. 7. The Government Pleader for Mines & Geology, High Court Buildings, High Court of A.P. (OUT) 8. Two C.D. copies.