HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE ASHUTOSH MOHUNTA W.P. No. 18917 of 2011 DATED: 17.07.2011 Between: K. Sarangapani .. Petitioner And 1. The Tahsildar 2. The Assistant Director of Mines and Geology 3. The Director of Mines and Geology ..Respondents O R D E R:- This writ petition is filed with a 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 action on the part of respondent Nos.1 to 3 in not disposing of the Quarry Lease application dated 05.08.2008 of the petitioner for grant of Black Granite over an extent of 2.00 Hectares in Sy.No.319 of Nambala village of Dandepally Mandal of Adilabad District in a time bound manner as required under law, as illegal, arbitrary and violative of the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 and the Rules made thereunder apart from being violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the 1st respondent to implement the provisions of G.O.Ms.No. 181, Industries & Commerce (Mines-I) Department dated 28.05.1998 in the interest of Mineral Development, law and justice.” The petitioner submitted an application dated 05.08.2008 to the 2nd respondent – Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, Mancherial, Adilabad District, for grant of quarry lease for Black Granite over an extent of 2.00 Hectares in Sy.No. 319 of Nambala village of Dandepally Mandal of Adilabad District. It is submitted that on the application submitted by the petitioner, the 2nd respondent – Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, through letter bearing No.2202/Q/2008, dated 05.08.2008, requested the 1st respondent – Tahsildar, Dandepally Mandal, Adilabad 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 1st 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. Inasmuch as it is evident from letter bearing No.2202/Q/2008, dated 05.08.2008, addressed by the 2nd respondent to the 1st respondent that such reference was already made by the 3rd respondent, I deem it appropriate to direct the 1st respondent to submit report on the availability and classification of the area referred to in the letter dated 05.08.2008, addressed to him by the 2nd respondent, as expeditiously as possible, preferably, within a period of four (4) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Subject to the above directions, the writ petition is disposed of. No order as to costs. _____________________ ASHUTOSH MOHUNTA, J 07.07.2011 bcj