N. Y. HANUMANTHAPPA, C. J.

( 1 ) THE petitioners have filed this writ petition challenging the proposal made by the Government of Orissa, Department of Steel and Mines by letter No. 550/sm/iii (G) SM-36/97 dated 23-1-1999 sent by the Additional Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Mines, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi and seeking the following reliefs. (I) The recommendation made by the State of Orissa (opposite party No. 2) vide letter dated 28-1-1999 bearingno. III (G)SM/36/97/550 be quashed. (II) The Union of India and the State of Orissa, i. e. opposite party Nos. 1 and 2 be restrained from acting on the recommendation made by O. P. No. 2 in the letter dated 28-1-1999 referred to above. (III) Opposite party Nos. 1 and 2 be restrained from granting lease pursuant to the application dated 19-9-1996 made by opposite party No. 3, i. e. M/s Nava Bharat Ferro Alloys Limited, a company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 having its Registered Office at Nava Bharat Chambers, Rajbhavan Road, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. (IV) A writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction be issued directing opposite party No. 2 to grant a mining lease in favour of petitione