K.Sanjeevi, v. State Of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. By Its Principal Secretary,

THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE VILAS V. AFZULPURKAR WRIT PETITION No.4364 OF 2015 Date:28.04.2015 Between:

K. Sanjeevi .. Petitioner And State of Andhra Pradesh, rep., by its Principal Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department, Secretariat Building, Hdyerabad and others .. Respondents

THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE VILAS V. AFZULPURKAR WRIT PETITION No.4364 OF 2015 ORDER:

Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Government Pleader for Mines and Geology.

As per the proposals of the Commissioner under the A.P. Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1966, the petitioner made an application on 19.03.2010 seeking quarry lease for colour granite in Survey No.134 of Thugunadram Village, G.D. Nellore Mandal, Chittoor District, over an extent of 5.00 hectors. The petitioner states that the earlier prospecting leaseholder of the very same land did not apply for quarry lease, after its expiry and as the mineral deposits are available, the petitioner sought quarry lease. But, no orders are passed on the said application. Aggrieved thereby, the petitioner has filed the present Writ Petition. Learned Government Pleader for Mines and Geology received instructions, which show that the Tahsildar, G.D.

Nellore Mandal, issued 'No Objection Certificate' (NOC) stating that the land is classified as 'Grazing Ground'. Further, under Memo, dated 02.05.2013, the Government directed that the District Level Screening Committee was required to inspect all grazing lands and to re-classify them, if they are having mineral wealth and are not useful for grazing purpose. As NOC from Screening Committee is awaited, the petitioner's application is pending consideration.

Learned Government Pleader also reiterates that the Screening Committee's decision is still awaited.

Hence, the Writ Petition is disposed of directing respondents 2 to 4 as well as the Screening Committee to consider the petitioner's application and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law, expeditiously. There shall be no order as to costs.

Miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this Writ Petition shall stand closed. ____________________________

VILAS V. AFZULPURKAR, J 28.04.2015 KH