HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD WRIT - C No. - 35513 of 2025 Court No. - 40 HON'BLE SARAL SRIVASTAVA, J. HON'BLE SUDHANSHU CHAUHAN, J. 1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and Sri Rajeshwar Tripathi, learned Chief Standing Counsel-II for State-respondents. 2. The petitioners by means of the present writ petition have assailed the order dated 09.09.2025 passed by the respondent no.2-District Magistrate/District Officer, Hamirpur. 3. A preliminary objection has been raised by learned Chief Standing Counsel-II that against the order impugned, there is a statutory remedy of appeal under Rule 79 of U.P. Minor Minerals (Concession) Rules, 2021 before the Divisional Commissioner. 4. From the perusal of instruction supplied by the learned Chief Standing Counsel-II, which is taken on record, it appears that a detailed notice has been given to the petitioners on 16.06.2025 specifying the charges against the petitioner for illegal mining. The relevant extract of the notice dated 16.06.2025 is reproduced herein below:- "अवगत कराना है िक िदनांक 31.05.2025 को ग्रान बेरी में प्रात काल 09:00 AM बजे मौरम के अवैध खनन/पिरवहन की िशकायत प्राप्त हुयी िजस पर जाँच कर कायर्वाही के िनदेर्श प्राप्त हुए थे। उक्त के क्रम में खिनज िवभाग, हमीरपुर राजस्व िवभाग तहसील सदर तथा पुिलस िवभाग थाना कु रारा द्वारा संयुक्त रूप से ग्राम बेरी में समय लगभग 09:30 AM पर जाँच की गयी िजसमें पाया गया िक मौके पर 02 पोकलेन तथा 01 ट्रेक्टर मय ट्राली द्वारा मौरम का अवैध खनन कर पिरवहन का कायर् िकया जा रहा था, िजसकी जाँच राजस्व अिभलेखों के अनुसार में पाया गया िक गाटा संख्या-731 रकबा-0.901 हे० जो कु लदीप िसह नीरज िसह पुत्रगण राजेश िसह के नाम दजर् है। िजयो कोआिडनेट्स संख्या 1-250 53' 30.72" N 790 52 '49.90" E स्थान पर 13 मी० x 12 मी० X 2 मी० (ल०चौ०ग०) अथार्त Versus Counsel for Petitioner(s) : Birendra Singh, Kamta Prasad, Swati Singh Counsel for Respondent(s) : C.S.C. Kuldeep Singh And 3 Others .....Petitioner(s) State Of U.P. And 2 Others .....Respondent(s) 312 घनमीटर व 2-250 53 '33.34" N 790 52 '49.34" E स्थान पर 30 मी० x 10 मी० x 4 मी० (ल०चौ०ग०) अथार्त 1200 घनमीटर तथा 3- 22 मी० X 34 मी० X 4 मी० अथार्त 2992 घनमीटर अथार्त कु ल 4504 घनमीटर मौरम का अवैध खनन कर पिरवहन िकया गया है। मौके पर अवैध खनन करते पाये गये पोकलेन का िववरण िनम्नानुसार है। 1-पोकलेन हुण्डाई िस०नं० HYNDN640CE0000628 ईजन नं0-140/104/2000 मॉडल नं0-R-215L रंग पीला व काला 2-पोकलेन हुण्डाई िस०नं0 N635D01292 इंजन न0-148/110/2000 मॉडल न०-R-215L रंग पीला व काला तथा ट्रेक्टर मय ट्राली का िववरण िनम्न है। 1-ट्रेक्टर मय ट्राली मिहन्द्र डी०आई० 475 िस०न०-RAV002915 ट्रेक्टर के इंजन के तरफ अंिकत न०- RAV002915" 5. From the aforesaid notice, it is evident that details about the area over which petitioners were found doing illegal mining has been specified in the notice. The question as to whether the area specified in the notice, extracted above, comes within the lease of the petitioners or beyond the lease of the petitioners is a question of fact. Further the question as to whether the petitioners were doing illegal mining over the area described in the notice, extracted above, is also a question of fact which can be determined only on the basis of evidence on record. 6. In such view of the fact, we find that since the issues which are to be adjudicated in the instant case are the disputed question of fact which can very well be looked into and determined by the Appellate Authority on the basis of evidence on record, therefore, we dismiss the writ petition on the ground of alternative remedy. 7. However, if petitioners prefer any appeal against the impugned order within a period of one month from today, the Appellate Authority shall decide the same on merit without entering into the question of limitation. October 10, 2025 NS WRIC No. 35513 of 2025 2 (Sudhanshu Chauhan,J.) (Saral Srivastava,J.) Digitally signed by :- NITIN KUMAR High Court of Judicature at Allahabad