Turaka Kumar Babu, Vs The State of… — Mining and Natural Resources | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

Turaka Kumar Babu, Vs The State of… — Mining and Natural Resources | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ Petition closed (cause having lapsed on the petitioner's withdrawal of his mining-lease applications); liberty granted to the petitioner to work out his legal remedy in accordance with law; no order as to costs; pending interlocutory applications (IA Nos. 1 of 2020 and 1 of 2024) stood closed.

Issue for consideration

Whether the inaction of Respondents 1-6 in processing the petitioner's two Applications for grant of Mining Lease (Meeseva Nos. MIN011800064860 and M1N011800064861 dated 12.06.2018) over 3.00 and 7.00 hectares in Survey Hill Block No. 8 of Thokapalli Village, Peddaraveedu Mandal, Prakasam District, was illegal, irregular and amounted to non-discharge of their statutory obligation, offending Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.

Ratio / Principle

On the petitioner's counsel submitting that the petitioner had withdrawn his mining-lease applications and filed the requisite affidavits before the respondent authorities, so that the cause in the Writ Petition no longer survived for further adjudication, the Court recorded the submission and closed the Writ Petition, granting the petitioner liberty to work out his legal remedy in accordance with law, with no order as to costs. The substantive issue was not adjudicated.

Key takeaways

Interlocutory applications, if any, pending in the Writ Petition shall stand closed.ratio¶36

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Andhra Pradesh High Court at Amaravati (single Bench, Hon'ble Sri Justice Maheswara Rao Kuncheam), by order dated 11.03.2026, closed Writ Petition No. 20871 of 2020 (Turaka Kumar Babu v. State of Andhra Pradesh and five other respondents) without adjudicating the merits. The petition, moved under Article 226 of the Constitution, had sought a writ of mandamus declaring the respondents' inaction in processing the petitioner's two Applications for grant of Mining Lease through Meeseva Nos. MIN011800064860 and M1N011800064861 dated 12.06.2018 (over 3.00 and 7.00 hectares in Survey Hill Block No. 8 of Thokapalli Village, Peddaraveedu Mandal, Prakasam District) illegal and violative of Articles 14 and 21, invoking the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957 and GO Ms No. 107, dt. 30.07.2016. At the hearing, counsel for the petitioner reported that in view of subsequent events the petitioner had withdrawn the applications and filed the required affidavits to that effect before the respondent authorities, and that the cause therefore did not survive. Recording this submission, the Court closed the Writ Petition, reserving to the petitioner liberty to work out his legal remedy in accordance with law, made no order as to costs, and directed that pending interlocutory applications (IA No. 1 of 2020 under Section 151 CPC seeking interim consideration of the applications, and IA No. 1 of 2024 seeking leave for Respondent No. 6 to file a counter affidavit) stand closed. No precedent was cited, relied upon or treated in any manner, and no holding on the substantive mining-lease issue was issued by this Court.

APHC010315162020

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

[3504]

WEDNESDAY, THE ELEVENTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

PRESENT

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE MAHESWARA RAO KUNCHEAM

WRIT PETITION NO: 20871/2020

Between:

TURAKA KUMAR BABU,, S/O. MATTEIAH, AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS, OCC. BUSINESS, R/O 2-2Q, PEDDA NAGULAVARAM VILLAGE, MARKAPUR MANDAL, PRAKASAM DISTRICT.

...PETITIONER

AND

THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT.

THE DIRECTOR OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, SRI ANJANEYA TOWERS, D. NO. 7-104, B-BLOCK, 5TH AND 6TH FLOORS, IBRAHIMPATNAM, VIJAYAWADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT.

THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, PRAKASAM DISTRICT AT ONGOLE.

THE ASST DIRECTOR OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, MARKAPUR, PRAKASAM DISTRICT.

THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, PRAKASAM DISTRICT AT ONGOLE.

THE TAHSILDAR, PEDDARAVEED

...RESPONDENT(S):

2

Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue a writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS declaring the inaction on the part of Respondents in processing Two Applications submitted by the petitioner for grant of Mining Lease through Meeseva Nos. MIN011800064860 and M1N0118000 64861 dated 12.06.2018 over an extent of 3.00 Hectors and 7.00 Hectors respectively in Survey Hill Block No. 8 of Thokapalli Village in Peddaraveedu Mandal of Prakasatn District as illegal, irregular and amounts to non discharge of legal obligation conferred on respondents under the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957 (Act No. 67 of 1957), rules and regulations issued there under and also GO Ms No. 107, dt. 30.07.2016 and offends articles 14 and 21 of Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents to consider and decide the petitioner's said applications in accordance with law, thereby granting the petitioner mining lease and pass IA NO: 1 OF 2020

Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to direct Respondents to consider and decide my applications submitted for grant of Mining Lease through Meeseva Nos. MIN011800064860 and M1N011800064861, dt. 12.06.2018 over an extent of 3.00 Hectors and 7.00 Hectors, respectively in Survey Hill Block No. 8 of Thokapalli Village in Peddaraveedu Mandal of Prakasam District, pending disposal of the main Writ Petition and pass IA NO: 1 OF 2024

Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to grant leave to the Respondent No. 6 to file counter affidavit and pass

Counsel for the Petitioner:

1.NIMMAGADDA REVATHI

Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1.GP FOR REVENUE

2.GP FOR MINES AND GEOLOGY

3

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE MAHESWARA RAO KUNCHEAM

WRIT PETITION NO: 20871 of 2020

The Court made the following Order:

Today when the matter is taken up for hearing, Sri P.Karthi Kiran, learned counsel representing Smt. N.Revathi, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that in view of the subsequent events, the petitioner withdrew the applications for grant of Mining Lease and filed required affidavits to that effect before the respondent authorities and as such, the cause in the present Writ Petition does not survives for further adjudication.

Learned Assistant Government Pleader representing the State is in attendance.

Recording the said submission, this Writ Petition is closed with a liberty to the petitioner to work out his legal remedy in accordance with the law. No order as to costs.

Interlocutory applications, if any, pending shall stand closed.

___________________________________ JUSTICE MAHESWARA RAO KUNCHEAM

Date: 11.03.2026 PSA