THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE GODA RAGHURAM AND THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAMESH RANGANATHAN W.P.NOs. 3372, 4284, 10117 and 10166 of 2009 27-01-2010 BETWEEN; W.P.3372 of 2009 Undru Nageswara Rao and another ...Petitioners vs. The Government of A.P rep. by its Secretary and others ...Respondents W.P.No.4284 of 2009 Rajulapati Venkata Subba Rao and another …petitioners Vs. The Government of A.P rep. by its Secretary and others ..Respondents W.P.No.10117 of 2009 N.Narasimharaih ..Petitioner Vs. The Government of A.P rep. by its Secretary and others ..Respondents W.P.No.10166 of 2009 D.Gouri wife of Venkateswar Rao ..petitioner vs. The Government of A.P rep. by its Secretary and others …Respondents THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE GODA RAGHURAM AND THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAMESH RANGANATHAN W.P.Nos.3372,4284, 10117 and 10166 OF 2009 ORAL COMMON ORDER: (Per GR,J) The extension of leases for quarrying sand beyond the tenure permissible under the relevant provisions of the A.P. Mines and Minerals Concession Rules, 1966 (For short “the 1966 Rules”), on the basis of orders of the State Government are challenged in these writ petitions filed in public interest and involve common questions of law. The authority of the State to extend leases in purported exercise of powers under Rule 9-K(3) is involved. A learned Division Bench of this Court by the judgment dated 25-01-2010 in W.P.No.9706 of 2008 and batch has held that the provisions of the 1966 Rules including Rule 9-K(3) do not authorize grant of extension of lease periods beyond the initial tenure, by the State Government. In the light of this judgment these writ petitions have to be allowed and are accordingly allowed. The orders of the State Government granting extensions of leases, which are challenged in these writ petitions, are quashed. There shall however be no order as to costs. ______________ GODA RAGHURAM,J __________________ RAMESH RANGANATHAN,J 27th JANUARY 2010. TSNR