IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE ELEVENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRIT PETITION No.5128 of 2008 Between: K. Ramachandra Rao & Company, Rep. by its Managing Partner, K. Ramchandra Rao, S/o. Sri Hari Rao, R/o. B-25, SPM Colony, Sirpur Kagaznagar, Adilabad District. ..... PETITIONER AND 1 The Government of Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad. 2 The Director of Mines and Geology, BRKR Building, 8th Floor, Tank Bund Road, Hyderabad. .....RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed herein the High Court may be pleased to issue an order or writ one in the nature of Mandamus to declaring the action of the respondents in not passing orders of granting Mining Lease for Limestone in over an extent of Acs.173.23 in Sy.No.124/1 of Khamana Village and Sy.No.36/1 of Khedegaon Village, Wankidi Mandal, Adilabad District in pursuance to Memo No.2248/M.III(2)/2004-1, dt. 18.07.2006 on the application of the petitioner dt. 07.07.2003 as arbitrary, illegal, unjust and contrary to Mines and Minerals (Regulation & Development) Act, 1957 and Mineral Concession Rules, 1960. Counsel for the Petitioner: SMT.N.SHOBA Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR INDUSTRIES & COMMERCE The Court made the following : THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRIT PETITION No.5128 of 2008 ORDER: Petitioner seeks to assail the inaction of the respondents in passing orders on its application dated 07.07.2003, for granting mining lease for limestone over an extent of Acs.173.23 cents in Sy.No.124/1 of Kahmana village and Sy.No.36/1 of Khedegaon village of Wankidi Mandal in Adilabad District, pursuant to the Memo dated 18.07.2006. According to the petitioner, it submitted an application for grant of mining lease on 07.07.2003 to the first respondent, through the Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, Mancherial, Adilabad District. On receipt of the same, the first respondent, by proceedings dated 18.07.2006, called upon the petitioner to submit approved mining plan within a period of six months from the date of the said proceedings. Later, by proceedings dated 22.01.2007, the time was extended till 18.07.2007 and thereafter till 16.01.2008. Petitioner states that it submitted the approved mining plan to the first respondent on 13.12.2007. It further states that the project report, as directed by the second respondent, was also submitted on 04.02.2008. Now its grievance is that though all the formalities are complied with, the first respondent has not passed any orders on its application. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Industries and Commerce, appearing for respondents 1 and 2. In view of the facts and circumstances of the case, without going into the merits of the case, the writ petition is disposed of directing the first respondent to consider and dispose of the application of the petitioner dated 07.07.2003, within a period of eight weeks from today. There shall be no order as to costs. _________ 11.03.2008 sh