JUDGMENT :

SANJEEV KUMAR, J.

CM No. 1038/2020

This application has been filed for impleadment of eight persons as party respondents on the ground that they are vitally interested in the outcome of these petitions for [It seems to be read as “the” - Editor] favour the decision of the Government to allot mining leases only by way of e-auction.

The petitioners, however, oppose the plea of the applicants for impleadment but submit that they have no serious objection in case the applicants are permitted to intervene.

The applicants, for the reasons stated therein, and also for the reason that they have vital interest in the outcome of the writ petitions, are permitted to intervene.

The application is disposed of.

1. The petitioners in all these petitions are persons having been issued letters of intent for grant of mining leases for extraction of minor minerals from various minor minerals blocks located in erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir (now UT of Jammu and Kashmir). In all these petitions, petitioners have raised a common grievance against a communication of the Department of Industries and Commerce issued through its Under Secretary bearing No. Ind/legal-239/2018 dated 26.02.2019 where