JUDGMENT

SANJU PANDA, J. : In this writ application, the petition¬ers have challenged the revocation of Mining Lease transfer order dated 6.2.2007 passed by the Deputy Secretary to Government of Orissa, Department of Steel and Mines and cancellation of removal permission for iron ore (vide Annexure-14) and issuance of work¬ing permission in favour of a dead person, namely, Late Manoran¬jan Das (vide Annexure-16).

2. The facts leading to this case are as follows:

A mining lease in respect of an area measuring Ac.11.533 hects in village Deojhar in the district of Keonjhar for a period of 20 years was to be granted in favour of one Manoranjan Das. Due to paucity of funds, on 18.3.1997 he entered into an agree¬ment with Deepak Kumar Rana, Managing partner of petitioner no.1 firm to transfer the said mining lease and also executed a General Power of Attorney in his favour. Accordingly, on the said lease being granted in favour of Manoranjan Das, on 6.7.1998 Deepak Kumar Rana as the Power of Attorney Holder of Manoranjan Das executed the mining lease deed with the Collector, Keonjhar to carry on the mining operation.In the said agreement, they further agreed that Deepak Kumar Rana will e