JUDGMENT

1. The 1st petitioner is the Federation of Minor Minerals Industry and the 2nd petitioner, which is a member of the 1st petitioner sought grant of a mining lease for granite, over 3 Hectares of land in Sy.No.1 of Addukouda Village, Tekkali Mandal, Srikakulam District.

2. The Central Government exercising its power under Sec. 18 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (hereinafter referred as "MMDR Act,1957") had framed the Granite Conservation and Development Rules, 1999 (hereinafter referred to as the Granite Rules) which set out the rules for Conservation, Systematic and Scientific Exploitation of Granite Resources in India. All licenses and leases, relating to exploitation of granite resources, are required to be issued in accordance with these rules. The Government of Andhra Pradesh had also issued, under Sec. 15 of the MMDR Act, 1957, the Andhra Pradesh Mining Mineral Concession Rues, 1996 (hereinafter referred as the "Minor Mineral concession Rules, 1996") under G.O.Ms.No.1172 dtd. 4/9/1967. These rules have been amended from time to time including the amendment by G.O.Ms.No.13, Industries & Commerce (Mines-III), dtd. 14/3/2022 and G.O.Ms.No.1