Date of reserved for orders : Date of pronouncement : Date of uploading : APHC010302592026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3329] THURSDAY, THE 25th DAY OF JUNE 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA WRIT PETITION NO: 16129/2026 Between: 1. KORRA SUBBA RAO, S/O LATE NAGESWARA RAO, AGED 45 YEARS, R/O D.NO.021, NERELLABANDA VILLAGE, LAKKAVARAPU PETA, GKVEEDHI MANDAL, VISAKAPATNAM DISTRICT- 531133, REP BY HIS GPA HOLDER SRI DEGALA KISHORE, S/O VENKATESWARLU, AGED 35 YEARS, R/O 1101, D BLOCK, ADITYA ATHENA, MANIKONDA, HYDERABAD - 500089 ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF AP, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE (MINES) DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELLAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT- 522238. 2. THE DIRECTOR MINES AND GEOLOGY, ANJANEYA TOWERS, IBRAHIMPATNAM KRISHNA DISTRICT- 521456. 3. THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, ALLURI SITARAMARAJU DISTRICT, PADERU. (ERSTWHILE VISAKAPATNAM DISTRICT)- 531024 ...RESPONDENT(S): Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased topleased to issue a Writ, Order or Direction, more particularly one in 2 the nature of a Writ of Mandamus declaring the inaction of the Respondent authorities in processing the Petitioner's Mining/Quarry Lease Application vide Application No. MIN011800063887, dated 03.05.2018, for the mineral Laterite in an extent of 20-77 Hecatres in Sy.No.104,111 to 115 of Pedajadumuru Village, G.K.Veedhi Mandal, Alluri Sitaramaraju District ( erstwhile Visakapatnam District ) and issuing an LOI based on the reccommendations and proposals in File No.1600/Q/2018, as arbitrary, illegal, high handed and violative of the principles of natural justice, the provisions of the APMMC Rules, 1966, as amended by G.O.Ms.No.100 Industries and Commerce (M.ll) Department, dated 26.06.2025 and Articles 14 and 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution of India and to consequently direct the Respondent authorities to forthwith issue an LOI in favor of the Petitioner by further processing the Petitioner's Mining/Quarry Lease Application vide Application No. MIN011800063887, dated 03.05.2018, for the mineral Laterite and and to pass IA NO: 1 OF 2026 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased pleased to directs the Respondent authorities to not declare the Petitioner’s Mining/Quarry Lease application vide Application No. MIN011800063887, dated 03.05.2018, for the mineral Laterite, as ineligible as per Rule 12 (2-A) (vii) of the APMMC Rules, 1966, as amended by G.O.Ms.No.100 Industries & Commerce (M.ll) Department, dated 26.06.2025, Pending disposal of the above writ petition and to pass IA NO: 2 OF 2026 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased pleased to directs the Respondent Consider the representations of the Petitioner dated 17.04.2026 and 21.05.2026, as per the APMMC Rules, 1966, Pending disposal of the above writ petition and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. G SAI NARAYANA RAO Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR MINES AND GEOLOGY 3 The Court made the following ORAL ORDER: The case of the Writ Petitioner is that the writ petitioner has submitted an application dated 03.05.2018 to the Respondents for sanction of the mineral Laterite mining/quarry in an extent of Ac.20.77 hectors in survey Nos. 104, 111 to 115 of Pedajadumuru Village, G.K. Veedhi Mandal, Alluri Sitaramaraju District. Even though, he submitted an Application in the year 2018, so far, the application of the writ petitioner was not considered by the Respondent No.2 for grant of quarry lease. He further submits that the Petitioner’s quarry lease application dated 03.05.2018 stood revived as per the amended APMCC Rules, 1966 vide G.O.Ms. No.100 Industries and commerce (Mines-II) department dated 26.06.2025 (Ex.P.7). As per the Rule 12 (3) (2-A) of the amended Rules, the applications for which security amount was paid within 3 (three) months and LOI was not issued within one (1) year from the date of issue of these amendment rules, under any circumstances will be deemed ineligible and the corresponding areas shall be disposed in accordance with these rules. In view of the said rule, the petitioner would not become ineligible, since this writ petitioner has already paid security amount within the time bound. 2. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Mines and Geology has submitted the Written Instructions dated 23.06.2026, furnished by the District Mines and Geology Officer, Paderu, Alluri Sitharamaraju District. Copy of it is supplied to the learned counsel for the writ petitioner and the same is taken on record. The written instructions would indicate that the application of the writ petitioner was under active consideration and inspection was already conducted by the technical staff i.e., Technical Assistant and Supervisor, wherein the technical staff recommended for grant of quarry lease to the writ petitioner for a period of 20 years for an extent of Ac.18.909 hectors in Survey numbers 111, 112, 113, 114 and 115 of Pedajadumuru Village of G.K. Veedhi Mandal, subject to fulfillment of conditions as laid down under APMMC Rules, 1966 and MC Rules, 1960, M&M (D&R) Act, 1957. 4 3. 4 3. Since the respondent authorities are acting on the application of the writ petitioner for sanction of lease, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to complete the entire process of sanction of lease for the subject land within a period of six months from today, subject to fulfillment of conditions by the writ petitioner as laid down under APMMC Rules, 1966 and MC Rules, 1960, M&M (D&R) Act, 1957. 4. Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of. No order as to costs. 5. Consequently, miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall also stand closed. ______________________________________ JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA Date: 25.06.2026 MNR Whether the order is : Speaking Yes/No / Reasoned Yes/No Reportable Yes/No 5 139 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA WRIT PETITION NO.16129 OF 2026 Dt: 25.06.2026 Mnr