ORDER :

1. This Writ Petition is filed to declare the Memo dated 01.06.2017 of the first respondent, permitting the Director of Mines and Geology to issue notification for conducting e-auction for granting mining lease in respect of Lime Stone blocks, consequential notice dated 17.07.2017 issued by the Director of Mines and Geology inviting tenders and the Memo of the first respondent dated 30.10.2017 deciding to issue letter of intent in favour of the fourth respondent, as arbitrary and illegal.

2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner Sri T. Sreedhar, learned Advocate-General appearing for respondents 1 to 3 and Sri Sivaraju Srinivas, learned counsel appearing for the fourth respondent.

3. The case of the petitioner Firm is that it was granted prospecting license for Limestone mineral over an extent of 288.87 Acres in USHB Yerragudi village in Survey No.20 of Hussainapuram village and in Survey No.340 of Yennakandla village, vide G.O.Ms.No.169, Industries and Commerce (M.III) Department dated 25.02.2000, for two years and the Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, Kurnool has permitted the petitioner to do prospecting over the granted area for two years from 28.04.2000 to 27.04