The Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed the Principal Secretary to Government, Industries & Commerce (Mines) Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh to consider and decide the representation of the petitioner raising grievance about granting of temporary permits by the concerned mining authorities.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Ninala Jayasurya disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed seeking a direction to the respondents to dispose of the petitioner’s representation dated 26.10.2022. In the said representation dated 26.10.2022 submitted to the 2nd respondent -(Principal Secretary to Government, Industries & Commerce (Mines) Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh), the petitioner has raised grievance about granting of temporary permits by the concerned mining authorities for quarrying minor minerals, such as gravel, ordinary earth, morram, boulders, without environmental clearance, and requested to direct the concerned mining authorities not to grant such temporary permits without environmental clearance.
Government Pleader for Mines & Geology, for the respondents, submitted that if the representation of the petitioner is still pending consideration, the same will be considered and disposed of by the 2nd respondent in accordance with the law.
In view of the above submission, the Court disposed of the petition (public interest litigation) with a direction that if the petitioner’s representation dated 26.10.2022 is still pending consideration, the 2nd respondent shall consider and dispose of the same in accordance with the law, as expeditiously as possible.
The PIL has been filed by one Nallamilli Srinivasa Reddy.