R.S. Jha, J.

1. The Petitioner has filed this petition being aggrieved by order dated 15.1.2004 passed by the Regional Controller, Govt. of India, Ministry of Mines, Indian Bureau of Mines, refusing to accept the mining plan submitted by the Petitioner along with his application for grant of mining lease in view of the provisions of Rule 22D(c) of the Mineral Concession Rules 1960 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Rules of 1960').

2. The brief facts, leading to the filing of the present petition, are that the Petitioner filed an application for grant of mining lease on 11.3.2003 for extracting limestone in respect of Khasra No. 905, Area 3.92 Hectares of village Bhatia, Tehsil Maihar, District Satna in accordance with the Rules. The State Government, by communication dated 6.10.2003, informed the Petitioner that he should submit the mining plan after due approval from the Central Government as required by Rule 22(4) of the Rules of 1960, within six months so that further proceedings could be taken up for processing the Petitioner's application for grant of mining lease. In view of the aforesaid letter of the State Government, the Petitioner submitted the mining plan to the Respon