ANUMOLU SESHAGIRI RAO Vs. THE DISTRICT REVENUE OFFICE, KRISHNA DISTRICT, COLLECTOR OFFICE, CHILAKALAPUDI AND ANOTHER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These cases highlight the discomfiture which the Government is put to and the loss of money it is obliged to incur on account of the careless and indifferent manner of drafting the Rules and Statutes. We will presently-demonstrate how this aspect of the matter arises in these cases.

(2.) The two writ appeals arise out of a common judgment of Jeevan Reddy, J. in W.P. Nos. 7853 and 7854 of 1973. They relate to seigniorage fee exigible on quarrying of minor minerals. In W.A. No. 917 the District Revenue Officer, Krishna held a public auction in respect of the quarrying rights of minor minerals. The appellant obtained 3 leases on the basis of these auctions, two of them relating to the period from 31-8-1970 to 31-12-1974 and the third from 19-9-1968 to 31-12-1973. The first lease was for Rs. 1775/-per year and the second one was for Rs. 1825/-and the third was for Rs. 1410/-. In addition to these lease amounts, the lease will have to pay the land revenue on the lands leaded out to him for quarrying purposes.

(3.) In W.A. No. 901 five leases were granted after holding public auctions. The first related to the period from 1-11-1968 to 31-12-1969. It was however renewed from time to time and concluded on 31-12-1972. The second one commenced on 27-11-1970 and concluded on 6-11-1971. The third one commenced from 1-1-1970 and concluded on 31-12-1970 and was renewed from time to time up to 31-12-71 and was renewed up to 31-12-1972. The last and the fifth lease was for the period from 1-1-1968 to 31-12-1979 and it was renewed up to 31-12-1972. After the expiry of these periods the leases came to an end.