JUDGMENT

Rajendra Babu, J.-On the basis of a letter sent to the Chief Justice of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, a petition in the nature of public interest litigation was entertained to direct the respondents to take action against the illegal blasting and crushing of granite for concrete metal in the areas of the Goldodi, Nanakramguda, hills of Khanapur and Kokapet in Rangareddy District as a result of which a lot of fine granite silica dust is entering into the atmosphere which causes a disease called Silicosis to the residents nearby. Two writ petitions were filed by the appellants in Civil Appeal Nos. 1907-1908/2000 calling for records or proceedings before the Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, Hyderabad in respect of grant of lease over an extent of 5 acres in survey No. 239 of Kokapet village, Rangareddy District, for quashing the same and for granting appropriate consequential reliefs. Similarly, certain other persons also filed writ petitions challenging the action of the Government in stopping the mining operations in different areas of Kokapet village.

2. The High Court called for a report from the Assistant Director of Mines and Geology. The said Report reve