H. N. KOTRESH Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner has filed the instant writ petition seeking the following reliefs:

(2.) The brief facts of the case are that the petitioner was granted a quarrying lease to extract ordinary building stones which is a non-specified minor mineral covered under the provisions of the Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1994 (for short the said Rules of 1994 ) and the said lease was valid for a period of five years with effect from 18th November 2008 to 17th November 2013.

(3.) The petitioner filed an application for renewal of quarrying lease in the prescribed Form-R on 16th August 2013 along with the statutory fees, well within the prescribed period. The fourth respondent-Authority has not disposed of the said application within 90 days as provided under Rule 22 of the said Rules of 1994. The said Rule 22 was in force till 12th August 2016. The fourth respondent vide order dated 26th October 2013 rejected the application for renewal stating that quarrying lease area is now included in Safer Zone Notification dated 25th October 2012.