THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE T. VINOD KUMAR Writ Petition No.93 of 2025

ORDER

Heard Sri A.Praneeth, learned counsel representing Sri P.Lakshma Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioners, learned Government Pleader for Mines and Geology appearing for respondent Nos.1 to 4 and perused the record.

2. The 1^st petitioner, represented by the 2^nd petitioner herein by the present Writ Petition, has assailed the action of the 4^th respondent- authority in issuing demand notice No.236/QL/2016, dt.14.10.2024, served on the petitioner, on 03.12.2024, directing them to pay normal seigniorage fee along with five times penalty in respect of quarry lease for building and road metal granted in the patta land situated in Sy.No.23 of Sirala Village, Bhainsa Mandal, Nirmal District, as being illegal and arbitrary, with a consequential direction to set aside the same.

3. The primary contention of the petitioner is that the respondents by the impugned proceeding had demanded normal seigniorage fee along with five times penalty under Rules 26(3)(2) and 26(2) of the Telangana Minor Mineral Concession Rules 1966 (for short ‘the Rules’); and that the said authority lacks jurisdiction to levy penalty, as in terms of