P.Lakshmanan, S/O.Ponnagoundar, v. The Director Of Mines And Geology,

THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR WRIT PETITION No.3275 of 2016 ORDER:

The grievance of the petitioner was as to the inaction of the mining authorities upon his application dated 17.02.2011 for grant of a quarry lease for colour granite over an extent of 3.000 Hectares in Survey No.691 (part), Madanapalli Village and Mandal, Chittoor District.

G.O.Ms.No.181, Industries & Commerce (Mines-I) Department, dated 28.05.1998, deals with disposal of mining lease and quarry lease applications and specifies the time limits within which such applications need to be processed. In that view of the matter, there is no reason as to why the petitioner's application dated 17.02.2011 should be kept pending.

The writ petition is accordingly disposed of directing the first respondent to process the quarry lease application of the petitioner in terms of the time stipulation, if not already done, and pass final orders thereon. As the time stipulation has already expired, this exercise shall be completed expeditiously and in any event, not later than two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall stand closed in the light of this final order. No order as to costs. ___________________________ SANJAY KUMAR, J Date:04.02.2016 GJ