Judgment :

Adarsh Kumar Goel, J.

1. These appeals by special leave have been preferred against order dated 6th February, 2015 in Civil Misc. Review Application Nos.5064 and 5065 of 2015 and order dated 15th December, 2014 in Civil Misc. Writ Petition Nos.38034, 38064, 12622 and 12663 of 2014 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad.

2. The question for consideration is whether the High Court was justified in quashing mining lease granted in favour of the appellants vide orders dated 24th May, 2014 and 26th May, 2014 on the ground that the said leases were granted in violation of the Government Order (G.O.) dated 31st May, 2012. Under this order, mining leases could only be granted under Chapter IV of the U.P. Minor Minerals (Concession) Rules, 1963 (the Rules) by way of e-tendering in the interest of transparency and to safeguard the public revenue.

3. Appellants Sulekhan Singh and company were the petitioners in the High Court in Civil Miscellaneous Writ Petition Nos. 12663 of 2014. The appellants Manoj Kumar Sood and Makhan Singh were jointly the petitioners in the High Court in Civil Miscellaneous Writ Petition Nos. 12622 of 2014. They sought direction for grant of mining