IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD THURSDAY, THE TENTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND NINE PRESENT: HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE P.S. NARAYANA WRIT PETITION No.18856 OF 2009 Between: Kotte Mining Industries, Rep. by its Managing Partner Kotte Bhaskar Rao ..... Petitioner AND The Government of Andhra Pradesh Rep. by its Secretary, Industries & Commerce (Mines & Minerals) Department and 4 others .....Respondents HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE P.S. NARAYANA WRIT PETITION No.18856 OF 2009 ORDER: This matter is coming up for admission today. 2. The learned Assistant Government Pleader for Industries takes notice on behalf of respondent Nos.1 and 2 and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue takes notice on behalf of respondent Nos.3 to 5. 3. Heard Sri N.M. Krishnaiah, learned counsel representing the writ petitioner, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Industries and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue as well. 4. The writ petition is filed for a Writ of Mandamus to declare the action of the respondents in not considering the application dated 03-06-2009 of the writ petitioner firm for grant of silica sand lease/licence with regard to the patta lands owned by its partners in Lingavaram/Thamminapatnam village, Chillakur Mandal, Nellore District as highly illegal, arbitrary and contrary to the provisions of the Mining Rules and consequently direct the respondents to forward and consider the applications dated 03-06-2009 of the petitioner firm for grant of lease/licence and pass such other relief/s. 5. It is stated that the partners of the petitioner firm had purchased the lands in 1978. It is further stated that the petitioner firm made an application for grant of mining lease in those lands on 03-06-2009. The clarification letter dated 21-07-2009 written by the Mandal Revenue Officer, Chilkur Mandal, Nellore District had also been mentioned in the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition. 6. The grievance of the writ petitioner is that no action, so far, had been taken by the respondents though they are bound to recommend the case of the petitioner for grant of lease in accordance with law. 7. In the light of the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is of the considered opinion that the writ petition be disposed of directing respondent No.2 to consider the application of the writ petitioner dated 03-06-2009 in accordance with law within a period of eight (8) weeks from the date of receipt of this order. 8. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of. No order as to costs. __________________ P.S. NARAYANA, J September 10, 2009. PV