1 2026:CGHC:3779 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPC No. 288 of 2026 1 - Dinesh Chandravanshi S/o Dhani Ram Chandravanshi Aged About 47 Years R/o Ward No. 8, G. Shyam Nagar Kawardha, District : Kawardha (Kabirdham), Chhattisgarh ... Petitioner versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Secretary, Mineral Resources Department, Mantralaya, Mahanadi Bhawan, Naya Raipur, Atal Nagar, Raipur, District : Raipur, Chhattisgarh 2 - Collector (Mining Branch) Kabirdham, District : Kawardha (Kabirdham), Chhattisgarh 3 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through - Director, Geology And Mining, Nava Raipur, Atal Nagar, Chhattisgarh. Through- Collector (Mineral Branch), District : Kawardha (Kabirdham), Chhattisgarh 4 - Mining Officer Collector Office (Mining Branch), District : Kawardha (Kabirdham), Chhattisgarh 5 - Deputy Director (Mineral Administration) Mining Officer / Assistant Mining Officer Collectors Office (Mineral Branch), District : Kawardha (Kabirdham), Chhattisgarh 6 - Forest Officer Kabirdham, District : Kawardha (Kabirdham), Chhattisgarh 7 - Forest Officer Kawardha Forest District- Kawardha (Kabirdham), Chhattisgarh 8 - Tahsildar Pandariya, District : Kawardha (Kabirdham), Chhattisgarh ... Respondents (Cause title, as taken from CIS system) For Petitioner : Mr. Pawan Kesharwani, Advocate For State/Respondents : Mr. Gary Mukhopadhyay, Addl. Adv. General. RUKHSAR BANO Digitally signed by RUKHSAR BANO Date: 2026.01.24 11:25:12 +0530 2 (Hon’ble Shri Justice Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi) Order on Board 22/01/2026 1. Heard. 2. This petition has been preferred by petitioner under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking following reliefs:- “10.1 To call for the entire records pertaining to the petitioner’s case for the kind perusal of the Hon’ble Court. 10.2 To decide the application for grant of mining lease pending since 31/07/2015 before the respondent No.2 Collector (Mining Branch), Kabirdham Chhattisgarh (Annexure-P-1) as early as possible within 1 or 2 months. 10.3 Cost of petition may be allowed. 10.4 Grant any other relief(s)/order(s)/direction(s) in favour of petitioner, which may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice.” 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner had filed application for grant of mining lease of Khasra No.143/1, area 3.967 hectares situated at village Rahmankapa, Panchayat Birkona, Pandariya on 31.07.2015 (wrongly mentioned as 31.07.2025 in 8.2 of writ petition). He had also paid requisite fee, despite that, the same has not been decided yet, therefore, learned counsel for the petitioner prays that this petition may be disposed of directing respondent No.2- Collector (Mining Branch), Kabirdham, Distt. Kabirdham (CG) to decide the application dated 31.07.2015 (Annexure-P/1) filed by petitioner, within a period specified by this Court. 3 4. On this, learned counsel for the State-respondents submits that as per Gazette Notification dated 23.03.2016, Rule 23A(2)(a) of the Chhattisgarh Minor Mineral Rules, 2015 has been amended and as per amendment, all applications received for the grant of quarry lease prior to the date of commencement of aforesaid amendment rules, shall become ineligible. However, he submits that application (Annexure-P/1) filed by petitioner shall be decided in accordance with law. 5. Having considered the limited prayer made by learned counsel for the petitioner, this petition is disposed of directing respondent No.2 to decide the application dated 31.07.2015 (Annexure-P/1) filed by petitioner, in accordance with law, expeditiously, preferably within a period of 30 days from the date of receipt/submission of copy of this order. 6. With aforesaid observation and direction, this writ petition stands disposed of. 7. Pending interlocutory application(s), if any, also stands disposed of. No order as to cost(s). Sd/- (Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi) Judge Rukhsar