THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY Writ Petition Nos.4720 and 8408 of 2010 DT.24.12.2010 Between: Kotagiri Vijayendhar and others … Petitioners (W.P.No.4720 of 2010) And The Government of Andhra Pradesh, Department of Panchayat Raj & Rural Development, rep.by its Principal Secretary, A.P.Secretariat, Hyderabad and others … Respondents (W.P.No.4720 of 2010) Counsel for the Petitioners: Sri Parsa Ananth Nageswar Rao Counsel for respondent Nos.1 to 3: AGP for Panchayat Raj Counsel for respondent No.4 : Sri P.Venugopal The Court made the following ORDER: COMMON ORDER: In these two writ petitions, the petitioners sought for a mandamus to set aside order, dated 19.02.2010, passed by respondent No.2 in Appeal No.1 of 2009, whereby he has confirmed order, dated 31.12.2008, of respondent No.3. At the hearing, the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj, representing respondent Nos.1 to 3, and Sri P.Venugopal, learned counsel for respondent No.4, have fairly conceded that respondent No.3 is not empowered to grant permission to dig infiltration wells on his own without placing the matter before the Mandal Authority under the provisions of Rule 10 of the Andhra Pradesh Water, Land and Trees Rules, 2002 made under the Andhra Pradesh Water, Land and Trees Act, 2002. In this view of the matter, without referring to the details of the controversies, these two writ petitions are allowed setting aside the impugned order of respondent No.3, as confirmed in appeal by respondent No.2. Respondent No.3 is directed to place the proposals for permission made by respondent No.4 before the Mandal Authority within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The Mandal Authority on receipt of such proposals, shall consider the same, after following the procedure prescribed under the Andhra Pradesh Water, Land and Trees Act, 2002 and the Rules made thereunder, and pass appropriate orders, within a period of four weeks thereafter. As a sequel to disposal of the writ petitions, the interim orders, 26.02.2010 and 15.06.2010, granted by this Court in W.P.M.P.No.6069 and 10820 of 2010 shall stand vacated, and W.P.M.P.Nos.6069, 8002 and 10820 of 2010, and W.V.M.P.Nos.1171, 3001 and 3054 of 2010 are disposed of as infructuous. (C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY, J) Date: 24.12.2010 VGB