THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE ASHUTOSH MOHUNTA WRIT PETITION No.11338 of 2011 ORDER: This writ petition is filed with the prayer, which reads as under: “For the reasons stated in the accompanying affidavit, it is humbly prayed of this Hon’ble Court to issue a writ, order or direction more so one in the nature of mandamus declaring the inaction on the part of the respondents Nos.1 to 3 in not disposing of the Quarry Lease Application dt.28-02-2011 of the petitioner made in an extent of 6.0 Hectares in Sy.No.344 of Naragallu village, Gudipala mandal, Chittor district, in a time bound manner as required under law, as illegal, arbitrary, violative of the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and the Rules made thereunder apart from being violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondent No.1 to implement the provisions of G.O.Ms.No.181, Industries and Commerce (Mines-I) Department dt.28-05-1998, in the interest of Mineral Development, law and justice.” Petitioner submitted an application to the second respondent - Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, Chittoor, for grant of quarry lease for dimensional stones of Granite over an extent of six Hectares in Sy.No.344 of Naragallu village, Gudipala mandal, Chittor district. It is submitted that on the application submitted by the petitioner, the second respondent through letter bearing No.1353/Q1/2011, dated 28-02-2011, requested the first respondent – Tahsildar, Gudipala Mandal, Chittoor District, to submit a report on the availability and classification of the area, as contemplated under Rule 12 of the Andhra Pradesh Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1966. It is the grievance of the petitioner that though time frame is fixed for disposal of such applications by the Government through G.O.Ms.No.181, Industries and Commerce (Mines-I) Department, dated 28-05-1998, the first respondent is not moving the matter. A perusal of G.O.Ms.No.181, dated 28-05-1998, issued by the Government indicates that to avoid delays on the applications filed for grant of quarry leases/mining leases, time frames were fixed for disposal of such applications. As per G.O.Ms.No.181, thirty (30) days time is fixed for sending report by the Tahsildar to the Assistant Director of Mines and Geology on the availability and classification of the land applied for. As much as it is evident from letter bearing No.1353/Q1/2011, dated 28-02-2011, addressed by the second respondent to the first respondent that such reference was already made by the second respondent, I deem it appropriate to direct the first respondent to submit report on the availability and classification of the area referred to in the letter, dated 28-02- 2011, addressed to him by the second respondent, as expeditiously as possible, preferably, within a period of four (4) weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. Subject to the above directions, the writ petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. _________________________________ JUSTICE ASHUTOSH MOHUNTA April 21, 2011 Note: Furnish C.C. in one week. B/o.Pn THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE ASHUTOSH MOHUNTA WRIT PETITION No.11338 of 2011 April 21, 2011 Note: Furnish C.C. in one week. B/o.Pn