THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE R.SUBHASH REDDY WRIT PETITION No.3395 of 2011 ORDER: This writ petition is filed questioning the action of the respondents in seizing vehicles bearing Nos.AP31 TT 8779 and AP31 TW 2589 belonging to the petitioners. A perusal of letter bearing No.3/Vg/VSP/07, dated 11.02.2011, addressed by the second respondent – Assistant Director of Mines and Geology (Vigilance), Visakhapatnam, to the third respondent – Station House Officer, Sabbavaram Police Station, Visakhapatnam District, indicates that the vehicles in question were seized mainly on the ground that the drivers of the vehicles in question failed to produce transit form/transit pass for transportation of mineral and the same is in violation of Rules 26 and 34 of the Andhra Pradesh Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1966/Rule 8 of the Andhra Pradesh Mineral Dealers Rules, 2000 and Sections 4 and 21 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957/Andhra Pradesh Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1966. When the matter is taken up on 15.02.2011, it was adjourned to enable the learned Government Pleader for Mines and Geology to get instructions whether seizure was reported before any Magistrate or not. Today, when the matter is taken up, it is submitted by the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Mines and Geology that even by this time, the seizure was not reported before any Magistrate and the vehicles in question are in the custody of the respondents. Unauthorized removal of mineral is nothing short of theft of valuable mineral of the State but it is not known why criminal cases are not being registered by reporting the matter relating to seizure of the vehicles in question to the Magistrate. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioners that in similar circumstances, this Court disposed of W.P.No.22899 of 2010 on 14.09.2010, directing the respondent authorities to release the seized vehicle therein subject to the petitioner therein producing the receipt showing payment of penalty amount along with ownership documents. A copy of the said order is placed on record. Learned counsel for the petitioners prays for disposal of this writ petition also with the same directions, for which, the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Mines and Geology appearing for the respondents reported no objection. In view of the above, the writ petition is disposed of with the direction to the respondents to release vehicles bearing Nos.AP31 TT 8779 and AP31 TW 2589 to the petitioners subject to their producing the official receipts showing payment of penalty amount as contemplated under the Andhra Pradesh Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1966, framed under the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957, along with the ownership documents. No order as to costs. ______________________ R.SUBHASH REDDY, J 18th FEBRUARY, 2011. Note: issue operative portion by ‘wire’ at party’s costs. kvni