Prafulla S/O Ram Lanjewar v. State Of Maha. Thr. Principal Secretary, Dept. Of Industres, Energy And Labour, Mumbai And Another

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY,

NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR.

WRIT PETITION NO. 2487 OF 2021 Prafulla S/o Ram Lanjewar, Aged about 61 years, Occu. - Business, R/o. MIG Colony, Wanjari Nagar, Nagpur.

.... PETITIONER // VERSUS // 1) The State of Maharashtra, through it's Principal Secretary, Department of Industries, Energy and Labour, Mantralaya, Mumbai.

2) The Director, Directorate of Geology and Mining, Government of Maharashtra, Shivaji Nagar, Nagpur.

.... RESPONDENTS ______________________________________________________________ Shri A. J. Gilda, Advocate for the petitioner. Ms N. P. Mehta, A.G.P. for respondent Nos.1 and 2. ______________________________________________________________ CORAM : SUNIL B. SHUKRE AND ANIL S. KILOR, JJ.

DATED : 16.07.2021 ORAL JUDGMENT : (Per Sunil B. Shukre, J.) 1.

Hearing is conducted through Video Conferencing and all the learned Advocates agreed that the audio and video quality was proper.

2.

Heard Shri Gilda, learned counsel for the petitioner and Ms N. P. Mehta, learned A.G.P. who appears by waiving notice on behalf of both the respondents.

3.

Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith. Heard finally by consent of the learned counsel appearing for the parties. 4.

It is seen that the application made by the petitioner under Rule 20(7) of the Minerals (Other than Atomic & Hydrocarbon Energy Minerals) Concession Rules, 2016 (for short 'Rules 2016') for revival of his lapsed Manganese Ore lease is still pending. This application has been made by the petitioner on 08.04.2021 and rule 20(7) of the Rules 2016 requires that such an application is decided within a period of three months from the date of receiving the application. Considering this provision of law, we are inclined to allow this petition seeking limited relief of making a decision on the application as a time bound one.

5.

Accordingly, the petition is allowed. The respondents are directed to decide the application filed under rule 20(7) of the Rules 2016 within a period of three weeks from the date of the order. We grant liberty to the petitioner to file additional material in support of

his application dated 08.04.2021, in view of provisions made under rule 20(8) of the Rules 2016 and if such additional material is provided, same shall also be considered in accordance with law. Rule accordingly. No costs.

(ANIL S. KILOR, J.) (SUNIL B. SHUKRE J.) Kirtak