IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE NINETEENTH DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TEN PRESENT THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRIT PETITION NO : 430 of 2010 Between: M/s.Chandra Minerals ..... PETITIONER(S) AND The Government of India, rep. by its Secretary to the Government, Ministry of Mines, New Delhi and others. .....RESPONDENT(S) THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRIT PETITION NO : 430 of 2010 ORDER : The petitioner, which is a Mining and Mineral Industry undertaking mining operations, gave an application dated 17-01-2004 for granting prospecting licence for exploitation of silica sand over an extent of Ac.45.00 guntas in Sy. Nos.628/A3 and 628/3A of Kothapatnam village, Kota Mandal, Nellore District. After considering the application, the Government issued G.O.Ms.No.216, dated 29-09-2004, granting prospecting licence to the petitioner, and pursuant thereto, it entered into an agreement with the Government. Thereafter, after getting a survey report and other analysis reports, the petitioner gave another application on 04-07-2005 to the Government for conversion of the said prospecting licence to mining lease. Thereafter, as no mining lease was granted, he approached the 4th respondent-Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, Sri Potti Sreeamulu Nellore District, and gave an application on 25-10-2005 to consider his application for grant of mining lease. As the same was not considered, the petitioner approached this Court and filed W.P.No.2721 of 2009 and this Court was pleased to pass orders in W.P.M.P.No.3497 of 2009 in W.P.No.2721 of 2009, dated 13-02- 2009, directing the respondents to consider the case of the petitioner for grant of mining lease. However, it appears certain area is proposed for establishment of Special Economic Zone, and in that context, the respondents are not considering its application for grant of mining lease and hence, it approached 2nd respondent-Secretary to the Government, Industries and Commerce Department, Hyderabad, and gave representations, dated 14-07-2009 and 28-05-2009, and again on 26-12-2009 to the 6th respondent-District Collector, SPSR Nellore, but, however, as no orders have been passed, it approached this Court and filed the present writ petition. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader for Mines and Geology and perused the record. 3. From the above, it is clear that the petitioner approached the respondent-authorities and gave several representations, but no orders have been passed. Hence, this Court is of the view that this writ petition can be disposed of with certain directions to the respondent authorities. 4. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of at the stage of admission with a direction to the respondents 2 and 6 to consider the representations dated 14-07-2009, 28-05-2009 and 26-12-2009, made by the petitioner, and pass appropriate orders thereon for granting mining lease in accordance with law. The said exercise shall be done within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. __________________ January 19, 2010 kvr