ORDER:

The petitioner prays for a writ of mandamus declaring the order dated 09.11.2020 passed by the 1st respondent vide Memo No.6857/M.1(2)/2018-2 to the extent of directing the petitioner to pay all mineral revenue arrears and determining the lease passed by 2nd respondent vide D.Dis.proc.No.1758/R1-1/2018 as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14 & 19 of Constitution of India r/w the A.P. Minor Mineral Concessions Rules, 1966 (for short, ‘the APMMC Rules, 1966’) and consequentially set aside the same.

2. Petitioner’s case pithily is thus:

Petitioner holds quarry lease for colour granite in an extent of 7 Hectares in Sy.No.73 of Melisathiwada Village, Tekkali Mandal, Srikakulam District for a period of 20 years. The Director of Mines and Geology/2nd respondent vide D.Dis.proc.No.1758/R1-1/2018, dated 08.06.2018, determined the quarry lease of the petitioner on the ground that the Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, Srikakulam/3rd respondent submitted proposal for determination after inspection of the quarry lease and after noting certain lapses on the part of the lessee as follows:

(a) The lessee was not operating the quarry lease and there were no traces of quarrying