Disposed

M/s.Ayyappa Stone Crushers v. State of Telangana and 4 others

Telangana HC17 Mar 2023WP/44043/2022

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court disposed of three writ petitions challenging forest department actions against a stone crusher operator. Finding a factual dispute over whether the petitioner's mining operations were on forest land, the court directed the Assistant Director of Survey and Land Records to conduct a survey and fix boundaries within one month, ordering the Forest Department not to take coercive steps u

What did the court decide?

The court directed the Assistant Director of Survey and Land Records, Ranga Reddy District, to conduct a survey and fix boundaries after issuing notice to the petitioner and all affected parties, incl

M/s.Ayyappa Stone Crushers Vs State of… — Mining and Natural Resources | Telangana HC (2023)

¶1

[³³⁰³¹

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HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE^{OF TELANGANA} AT HYDERABAD (SPecial Original Jurisdiction)

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FRIDAY, THE SEVENTEENTH^{DAY OF MARCH} TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY^THREE

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PRESENT

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THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE^{J.SREENIVASRAO}

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WRIT PETITION^NOS :^{44043 OF 2O22.3557oF 2015 AND381220F2014}

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W.P.No. 44043 ot 2022

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Between:

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M/s.Ayyappa Stone Crushers,^{GirgitpallyVillage^Vikar3bad Mandal,Rangareddy} oiJtiiit'nEb. by its Proprietor,^{Mr.V.F.dshivendeis/o.V.SatvanaraJana} ' 4999 9P9Yt 43 years, Occ. Business,^{Fyo.H.No.4-1-513,Venkateshwara ColonyVikarabad'} Ranga Reddy District.

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...PETITIONER

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AND

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State of Telangana^{State of Telangana, Rep. by its PrincipalSecretary Forest} Dept., Secretariat,^HYderabad.

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2.PrinciDalChiefConservatorofForests,stateofTelanganaAranyaBhavan' Masab Tank, HYderabad

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Conservator of^{Forests, CharminarCircle, Hyderabad'}

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District Forest Officer,^Vikarabad.

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District Collector,^Vikarabad.

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...RESPONDENTS

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petition Under Article 226 of the constitution of lndia^praying that^{in the} circumstances stated^{in the affidavitfiled therewith, the High court may be} pleasedtoissueaWritofMandamusoranyotherappropriateWritorOrderor brOers, Direction or^{Directionsto declare the actionof the 4th respondentin} R.i"r"n"" No.1754120221A2,^{dated 28-11-2022 as illegal,..arbitraryand} unsustainable and to^{declare the consequentialaction of the 4"' respondenlrn} locking the^power room^{and other office rooms of the petitioner, seizing the} vehicl6s of ihe^{petitionerand preventing the petitionerfrom carrying on the} quarrying operations in the^{tand in Sy. No.228 of Girgetpally Village,Vikarabad} t,tanoat^-ano District in^{pursuance to the Mining leases grantedto it by the} Department of Mines,^{Governmentof Telangana,basing on undatedsurvey}

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,.1..;^.

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report and withou following due process of law, as illega, highhanded^and unconstitulional an trt direct the respondents to act in accorditr:e^vuithlaw.

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(Prayer is amender as per Court Order dated 24-01-2023^{irr l. a.} \o.¹ of 2023\

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|.A.NO:1 OF 2022

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Petition und' r l;ection 151 CPC praying that in the circt rrrstances stated in the affidavit filed i :;upport of the petition, the High Courl rtay t,e^pleased to direct the 4th resp ndent not to initiate any other coercive moil:iur€rs against the officials of the p€ itioner herein, including arrest and deterlon,^pending the disposal of the wril^p<:trtion.

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|.A.NO:2 OF 2022

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Petitron Unc -.r Section 151 CPC praying that in the ci 1)umstances stated in the affidavit file, in supporl of the petition, the High Court rrtay re pleased to direct the 4th resp,ndent to remove the lock on the power ro)nr ard other office rooms of the pet ioner, done on O211212022 in Survey No. 22i3, Girgetpally Village, Vikarabad [Iandal & District, without notice to the^p€ ti1 one:r and without there being any I'oceedings in respect thereof, pending < isposal of the writ petition.

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|.A.NO:3 OF 2022

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Petition Unt er Section 151 CPC praying that in the cin:umstances stated in the aff idavit file irr supporl of the petition, the High Court Tray be pleased to direct the 4th res ondent to release the vehicles JCB No.^{A.I:'23P7241,} f ippe( Nos. TS12UD556l and AP28X7690 seized on 0211212022 frcnr the premrses of the petitioner in iu.vey No. 228, Girgetpaily Village, Vik: rabac Mandal and District pending di posal of the writ petition.

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Counsel for the P titioner : SMT.VEDULA CHITRALEKHA

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Counsel for the R spondents : GP FOR FORESTS

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W.P.NO: 3557 OF 1015

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Between:

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M/s. Ayyappa Sto e Crushers^Girgitpally Village, Vikarabad llandel, Rangareddy District, - Rep. by ts Proprietor, Mr.V.Raghavender S/o. V.S at'/an.rrayana, ngei, about 35 yeais, Ocr:: Business,^{R/o.H.No.4-1-513,} Verkziteshwira Colony Vikarabad, Ranga leddy District.

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.PETITIONER

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AND

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State of Tel ngana,^{rep by its PrincipalSecretary,} Reven ter Degt., Secretariat, 1y'derabad.

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+-.,"^. ' lfrft! :." : : Ba*ra:lj

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State of Telangana,^{Rep. by its PrincipalSecretary, Forest Department'} Secretariat Hyderabad.

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The District Collectdr, Rangareddy^District.

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4.TheAsst.ConservatorofForests,subDFOVikarabad,HyderabadForest Division

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The Director of^{Mines and} Geology,^Hyderabad.

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The Sub-Collector, Vikarabad^{Division' R.R.District'}

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The Tahsildar, Vikarabad^{Mandal, Ranga ReddyDishict'}

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Southern^{Power Distribution Company of Telangana Ltd,Rep' by its} Asst.Divisional Engineer-Operations^Vikarabad'

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...RESPONDENTS

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Petition under Article^{226 of the constitutionof lndia prayingthat in the} circumstancesStatedintheaffidavitfiledtherewith,theHighCourtmaybe pi""""O to i""ru a Writ of^{Mandamus or any other appropriateWrit or Order-or} bJers, Oirection^{or Directions declaring the Final Notice issuedby the 4th} r".ponO"nt in^{Rc.No.15A/1/2015dated 24 1'2015 whereby the petitioner was} directed to^{remove the stone crusher fromthe RF Area as illegal, unconstitutional} and unsustainable^{and to issuea consequential directionto the 4th respondent} not to interfere^{with the quarrying operationsof the petitionerover the leased} irnO of t S zo acres^{in Sy.tto.z2Aot birgetpally Vitlage, Vikarabad Mandal, R.R.} District, except^{by following due processof law by way of demarcation of the RF} nr." *itn the^{land leasedto the petitioner for quarryingoperations'}

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I.ANO:1 oF 2015^{WPMP.NO: 4737 OF 201}

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PetitionUnderSectionl5lCPCprayingthatinthecircumstancesStatedin the affidavit filed^{in support of the petition, the High Court maybe pleased direct} iii. +in *rp""Oent^{noi io interferewith the quarrying operations of the petitioner} or",^{'in" -Lrt.d land of 15.20 acres in Sy.No.228of GirgetpallyVillage'} vir"rro"o Mandal,^{R.R. District, by suspendingthe Notice of the 4th respondent} in ccr.ro.i slvr^{12015dated24.1.2015, pending disposal of the writ petition.}

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.ANO.2 0F ,| MP. o 38 15

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PetitionUnderSectionl5lCPCprayingthatinthecircumstancesstated in the affidavit^{filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to} respondent^{to restore electricitysupply to the petitionercrusher} Oir""i tt "-ett ,"i-L""ii^g conlrn1",^{No.RRS1618forthwith, pending disposat of the writ} petition.

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I.A.NO:1 OF 2022

Between:

1 The State of^- el;anr;ana,^{Rep. by its Principal Secretary, Fc r€:stDepartment'} Secretanat H^derabad.

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2.TheAsst.Cor;ervatorofForests,subDFOVikarabad,Hytle-abard'Forest Divrsion.

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...PETITIONEFIS,/RE]SPONDENTS

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AND

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1.M/s.AyyappaSkreCrushersGirgitpallyVillage,Vikarabadttlardal'Rangareddy oiiir:iit.^'i"61 bv i ; Proprie-toi,^{rr,lirlnign""e"nderS/o v.S.tyana'ayana,^Aged} Iuiiiii"as-"v"iis,^{Ccc, 'BJsiness, R/o:H.No.4-t-513,Venlr,leshwara Colony} Vikarabad, Ranga^{I ecldl' District.}

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...RESPONDE^{N'TS/PETITIONERS}

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2.Principal Secreta /^{[ievenueDepartment, Hyderabad, Revenu:l)epartment'} Secretariat,^{Hydere lad.}

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The District^{)ollector, Rangareddy District'}

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The Drrector of^{lvlines andGeology, Hyderabad}

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The Sub-Cc^{ler;tor,VikarabadDivision, R.R District'}

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The Tahsild^{rr, VikarabadMandal,Ranga ReddyDiskict'}

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Southern P,^{wer Distribtrtion Companyof Telangana Ltd, Rr-'p by its} Asst.Divisio^{ral Engineer-OperationsVikarabad'}

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...RESPONDEtIT'S/RESPONDENTS

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Petition ur ler Sectior^{151 cPCprayingthat in the( ir(rumstancesstated} in the affidavit fil,^{d in support of the petition,the High courttnay be pleased to} ,r"riu the ln ertm^{Order dated2OlO2l2O15inl.l'No 1 of2022} iw.F.lrr^{p r.ro a7? | r>f 1r-o151in wp.No.3557of 2015 and disrti:,,s ge writ petition.}

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Counsel for the^{I etitioner: SRI.VEDULA SRINIVAS}

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Counsel for the Lespondent^{Nos.1,3, 6 & 7 : GP FOR REVENUE}

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Counsel forthe^{lespondentNos.2 & 4: GP FOR FORESTS}

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Counsel for the^{lespondent No.5 : GP FOR MINESAND GI:OLOGY}

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Counsel for the^{lespondent No'8: SRI'R'VINODREDDY}

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W.P.NO: 38122OF 2014

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Between:

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M/s Ayyappa Stone Crushers, Girgitpally .^{Village, Vikarabad.Mandg!} Rangariidy District Rep by its Pioprietor,^{Mi.V.Raghavender,aged..about35} year"s, Occl Business,^'R/o H.no 4-1-513 venkateshwara^{colony Vikarabad,} Rangareddy District.

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Mr.V.Raghavender, S/o. V.Sathyanarayana^{AgedaboUt- 35..Lears, Occ:} Businesi, R/o. H.no 4-1-513 Venkateshivara^{colbny Vikarabad,Rangareddy} District.

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...PETITIONERS

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AND

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The State of Telangana,^{Rep by its PrincipalSecretary, Revenue Department} Secretariat Buildings,^Hyderabad.

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The State of Telangana,^{Rep by its PrincipalSecretary, Forest Department} Secretariat Buildings,^Hyderabad.

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The District Collector,^{Rangareddy District.}

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The Asst Conservator^{of Forests,Sub DFO Vikarabad, Hyderabad Forest} Division.

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The Director of^{Mines andGeology, Hyderabad.}

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The Sub^{Collector,VikarabadDivision,Rangareddy Dlstrict.}

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The Tahasildar, Vikarabad^{Mandal, Rangareddy District.}

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...RESPONDENTS

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PetitionUnderArticle226oftheConstitutionoflndiaprayingthatinthe circumstances stated^{in the affidavitfiled therewith, the Highcourt may be} pleased to issue an appropriate^{writ, order or Direction more particularly one in} ihe nature of^{,,Writ of Mandamus" declaringthe actionof the 6th respondentin} Lsuing^{proceedingsDated 19.11.2014 (thoughstyledas Show Cause Notice)} anO pievengng th6^{petitionerfrom operating the quarry and the further action of} the iespondeit^{t to.+ in interferingwith the mining activitiesof thepetitioner} wiitrout'any authority^{of law in Sy.No.228 over an extent of Ac.15.20 gts of land} iituated atl Girgitpaliy^{Village, Vikarabad Mandal, Rangareddy Districtas being} illegal, arbitrar| without^{any jurisdiction and in violationof principlesof natural} jusice and set aside the Proceedings^{Dated 19.11.2O14andconsequently direct} ihe respondents 4 and^{6 not to interferewith the miningactivities of the petitioner} in Sy.No.228 for an^{extent of Ac.15.20gts of land at GirgitpallyVillage of} Vikarabad Mandal.

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l.A.NO:1 OF 20 14(<sup>IPMP.NO: 47691oF 2014)

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Petition undr r:iection 151 CPC^{praying thatin the circLrrstarrces stated in} the aff idavit^{filed it} suprort ol the^{petltio;, Ge High Courtnrrr'7 be: pleasedTO} direct the^resPond ,nts'4 and 6 not to interfere^{with the min ncl activitiesof the} petitioner in SY.N ) ?.28 lot an extent of^{Ac.15.20 gts ofand, situatedat} Girgitpally Village, /i!:arabad l,4andal, Rangareddy^District'

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Counsel for the^Pt litioners : SRI.VEDULA^SRINIVAS

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Counsel for^theR, spondent Nos.1, 3,6^{& 7: GP FORREVENTJE}

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Counsel for^{the R} spondent Nos.2 & 4 :^{GP FOR FORESTS}

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Counsel for the^R spondent No.5^: GP^{FOR MINESAND GEr)l'OGY}

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The Court made^t e following COMMON^ORDER

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HON,BLE SRI JUSTICE J^{SREENTVAS RAO} WRIT PETITION Nos.44O43 of2022^{3557 of 2()15 and 38122 of} 20t4

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These three writ^{petitionsa-re clubbed togetherand} disposed by^{waY of a common order.}

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COMMON ORDER:

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The petitioner hled^{these writ petitions for the following} reliefs:

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W.P.No.44O43 of 2o22

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uto issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate Writ or

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Order or Orders, Dircction^{or Directionsto declare theactionof the 4th} respondent in locking^{the power room and other office roomsof the} petitioner seizing the^{vehiclesof the petitioner and preventing the} petitioner from carrying^{on the quarryingoperationsin the land in Sy'} No.228 of Cirgetpally^{Village,Vikarabad Mandaland District in pursuance} to the Mining^{leases granted to it by the Departmentof Mines,Goverrtment} of Telangana,^{basingon undated survey report and without followingdue} processoflaw,asillegal,highhandedandunconstitutionalandtodirectthe

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respondents^{to act in accordancewith law "}

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W.P.No.35 57 of 2O15

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"...1 src ;r Writ :f Mandantus or any other .lpproprirte \Vrit or

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0rdcr or Or le.s, Directron or I)irections declarirrg the rjinal Notice rssrred by tl I 4th respolldcnr in Rc.No. lS/V1/201, date,l ;t+.01.2015 whereby th( p(,titioncr was directe(l to remove the stone : -r.rshcr from thc RF Area rs illegal, unconstttutional and unsustaitrable and to ssue a consequcnti. Cirr.ction to the 4th respondent not to inter,(,re wrth the quarrying o[ ]r:rti()ns of thc petitioncr over thc Ieasec laId ct .15 20 acres in Sy. No.22t :lGir.getpally Village, Vikarabad Mandal, R.ll. I)rsrr.rct, exccpr by foilowing cuc Process ol'raw by way ofdcmarcarron oflhe Rr Area with thc lanc lr:irsed to the petltioner for quarrying opcrations,,

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W.P.No.38 t 22 of 2Ol4

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"lssu an approl)riate Wrir, Order or Dinrcti rrr mcre particularly n(, in the naturc of Writ ol Mandamrrs rleclar ng the action ofthe tttr r()spondent in issuing proceedings Dated l,):.1.2014 (though sryk J as Show Cause Notice) and preventing tl)c l)llitioter from operati g thc quarry and the further action of the resfrond3nt No.4 in irtert^,r.ing with the mining activities oIthe p€titioner ,vith,)ut any aurhoritr ol law in Sl/. No.Z2g over an extcnl of Acs.15 it{) gts of land siLLralec ,rt Cirgetpally Village, Vil<arabacl Marrrlal, Ila)Fiare(dy

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r' _,iilia,rli-:G",ti.:_q-ii=;=.i;i;.

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District as being illegal, arbitrary^{without any jurisdiction and in} violation of^principles of^natural iustice^{and set aside the Proceedings} Dated 19.11.2014 and consequently^{direct the respondents4 and 6 not} to interfere with the^{mining activities ofthe petitioner in Sy.No.228for} an extent of Ac.15.20^gts of^{land at Girgitpally Villageof Vikarabad} Mandal..."

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Heard Sri Vedula Srinivas,^{learned SeniorCounsel}

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appea-ring for petitioner,^{learned Government Pleaderfor Forests} representing respondent^{Nos. 1 to 4.}

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3 Brief facts of the case:

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3.1 The petitioner submits^{that petitioneris a proprietory} concern and it is^{engagedin running a stone crushingunit and} they made an application^{for grant of} Quarry^{Lease to an extent} of Acs.7.20 guntas in^{SurveyNo.228 of GirgetpailyVillage,} Vikarabad Mandal,^{Ranga Reddy District to the Assistant} Director of Mines and^{Geolory in the year 2OO7 and concerned} authority i.e., the^{Deputy Director of Mines and Geolory granted} Quarry^{Lease on 22.O2.2OO7 -The lease deed was executed}

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between thc p:titioncr and Assistanl Directrtr o[ Mines on O4.O4.2OO7 an< l.he same is valid for 15 yean;, second quarry lease was also granted on 17.01.2009 to the pretitioner to an extent of Acs.! 0O 1n Survey No.22B of^{(iirgetJ:a1ly} Viliage on 22.01.2OO9 anc exccuted lease deed for a periorl of 15 years up to 21.01.2024. Sinrilarly, anothcr quarry L--ase uas also granted in thc r.car 2C )!) to ar-r extent of Acs.S.OO ol land in Survey No.228. The lc Lse deed was cxecuted on 1'l.11.,100!) lor a period of 15 years. I r:r:ording to the petitioncr he u,a:; gr,lnted quarry lease for a tota r:xtent of Acs. 15.20 guntas in !|rrrvey No.228 of Girgetpally vill rge. The lease granted irr res1t,:ct of Acs.8.OO guntas o[ lan<1 Lre still in forcc

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3.2 He h rthr:r submits that on 19.71.2O'.,4, Sub-Collector, Vikarabad, issr ed a show cause notice to the pe:titioner stating that the Assi ;tant Conservator of Forests, Vil<arabad has informed him t n 13.11.2O14 that the Girg,ctpzr 1-,. Reserve Forest was notified Lu d,lr the,\ndhra Pradesh Forest r<.t and rcquested

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to cancel alt the mining^{activitiesin the said area and the} petitioner submitted explanation contending^{that the leaseswere} granted in their favour after due^{inspection of the site by the} Tahsildar and hence the^{same cannot be cancelled.}

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3.3 He also submits that the^{petitioner filed W.P.No} '38712 of 2Ol4 questioning^{the show cause noticedated19.1L'2O14and} the consequential action of^{preventingthe petitioner from doing} quarry operations and this^{Court granled interim order on} 17.12.2014 d.irecting^{Assistant Director of Survey and Land} Records to conduct^{survey for demarcationand fixation of} boundaries in Survey^{No.228and 148 of Girgetpally Village, after} giving notice to the^{petitioner and other affectedpersons'} Pursuant to the interim^{order dated17-12.2014, Assistant} Director of Survey and^{land recordsdirected the Inspector of} survey to conduct survey.^{He conducted survey in the presence} of forest oflicials and^{revenue oflicials. He found that the} Respondent/ Forest Department^{is in possession o[ excess land of}

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Acs.28.00 gunti s in Survey^{No.22U by being tlprlssession of} Acs.337.35 gun as zrgainst^{thc land of Acs'309.0:r guntas allotted} to it. He also c,bserved that^{stone crusher 1lt:longing to the} petitioner is exi,ting witl-rin the^{forest pillars. [I:a'lso found rhat} though the lan I lease in^{Sy'No.228was Acs.1:',20 guntas,the} existing quarrit s and stone^{crushers coveredorrly an extentof} Acs.l2.2O Lmnt rs.

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g.4 Thc prctitioner lurther submits thal or 24 Ol'2O15 Assistant Cons:rva-tor of^{l.-orcsts issued linal n,rticc alleging that} the stone Crus. rer has^{been found insidc tlre R<:serle Forest area} as per tht: su vey conducted^{by the ADSLR rlnd directedthe} petitioner to r( move the same^{within two (2) w:<:ks and alsohas} addressed a ie te:r to^{TSSPDCLto disconnt:cttL t: power supplyto} the crushrng Lnit of the^{petitioner. On 03.011.120t5, the power} supply wtrs d sc:onnecl-ed by^{the DISCON{AutlLor'ties' At that} stage, the te titione r approached this^{l)rrut t andfiled} W.P.No.3557 f 2O15 questioning the notice '-latr:d^24'O1'2015

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and also to restrain him from^{interferingwith the quarry} operations of the^petitioner 1n Survey No.228 of Girgetpally Village and wherein interim direction^{was granted directing forest} ofhcials not to interfere with^{quarry operations of the petitioner} and also restored^power supply

¶132

3.5 The petitioner further submits that^{on O5.O7.2O22} Assistant Director of Mines and GeoloS'^{issueda letter stating} that a Joint survey is going to take^{place for demarcationof the} leased land of the petitioner in Survey^{No.228 of Girgetpally} Village and the petitioner was directed^{to attend the Joint Survey} on 2O.O7.2022. Though the^{representative of the petitionerhas} attended on 20.O7.2022 at^{Lhe office of respondent No.4, only his} signature was taken and^{no survey was conducted.On} L4.I1.2O22 respondent No.4^{issued notice stating that the} petitioner encroached into the^{land about Acs.6.13guntasof} forest area and used the same^{for dumping quarry debris, thus} damaging the forest land and^{directed the petitionerto submit}

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¶134

his objections rs to why the action shotrld rot tre taken for recovery ol da n,eges and also lor registerine, a case. On 25.11.2022 the pctitioner submitted the reply. rjrating that the Respondent/Fo. est Dcp,rtment itself is in exces;r; possession of land in Survcl \o.228 and there is no denrzrrcation of the Reservr: Forest rrrd of Acs.3o9.o0 guntas at the tim. oI notilying the Reserve li rrcst and in the absenct: of the same, the respondent can t()t say that thc petitioner has :.ncr-oached into the forest land

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3.6 Thc pctitionr:r furthcr submits tha.. on 2g.11.2022 respondent No. I issued rcply stating that the pr,.rtitioner has to vacate the forcs land immediately, otherwise ac -,()n will be taken against him. H I iurther submits that on O,.2.j2.2OO2, respondent No.4 oflicials se zr:d the power room and other o tr.ce rooms of the petitioner and i lso taken away the vehicles of t:.,.r p,:titioner and kept them irt re ,porrdent No.4 oflice. Hence this .",..rit petition.

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Rcspc-rrlent No.4 liled counter on his; be half and on

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-.'a_- -1:BlwT._iEte) _'rJ: ',I.{t "}:, Ii,-1'M

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,-t

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behalf of respondent^Nos. l, 2, 3^{contending that Girgetpally} Forest Block was notif-red under Section^{4 of the Andhra Pradesh} Forest Act, 1967 and published in^{Andhra Pradesh Gazette} No.2O-D dated22.O5. 1975 and the^{Survey No'228is very much} part of the Girgetpally trorest block as^{per the notihcation. He} further submits that District Officer,^{Survey and Land records} Vikarabad,District, vide^{letter No.K3l869/2022dt.2a.l0.2022} has submitted to the District^{Collector, Vikarabad that "the} enLire Mining area on^{ground in Survey No.228 the mining area} to an extent of Acs.1.O0^{guntas, Crusher Machineto an extent of} Acs.2.O6 guntas and metal dumping^{to anextentof} Acs.4.OTguntas(total to arr extent^{of Acs.7.13guntas)is falling in} the Forest boundarY".

¶141

4.L He further submits^{that District Officers, Survey and} Land Records,^{Vikarabad,issued notice videletter} No.l754/2022/A2^{dated14.11.2022 and dated28-11.2022to} the petitioner, stating^{that under the guise of approvedleases,}

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the petitroner s cloing quarry operations rn about Acs. 1.00 guntas of ()irg< tpraily Forest Block and also q_Li:lr{y' debris are being dumped i r irbout 1\cs.4.00 guntas of forest lrln<l which is in violation o[ dire :tions of the Honbre Supreme (]r.rurt of India in their orders dat,cr 12.12,.1996 in God.auarman oas,e as welr as violation of Scr tior 2 .1. Forest(Conservation) 1:t, 19gO apart from violation r I p'ovisions or Section 4 rr'ad rri,-h Section 7 of Telangana Iiorcr t A<:t, 1967.

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4.2 He lurther contended that the ltetitioner filed w.P.No'38r22 ci 2cr 14 qucstioning the shorv <:arrs;c rrotice issued by Sub-C.llec, cr, Vikarabad, dated 19.ll.)Lti .A and also W.P.No.3557 ol 2.O15 questioning the notice daLled 24.01.201s issued by Assis ant Conservator of Forest, Vikar..rba.d which are pending. Petit: tner under the guise of lease, ,:ncr-oached into about Acs.6. 13 ggntas of forest area ancl usr:cl the same lor dumping quarr r d,:bris, thus encroaching/cliv:rting the forest land and also d. naging thc same .

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4.3 He also submits that as per the survey reports dated 19.01.2015 of Inspector Survey, O/o the Assistant Survey and Land Records, Ranga Reddy District, the Manda-l Surveyor, Vikarabad dated 25. IO.2O22 and District Officer, Survey and Land Records, Vikarabad District dated 28.10.2022, it is clear that the petitioner is carrying the mining in Acs.7.13 guntas of Iand within and inside the forest boundary covered with forest boundary pillars and the petitioner contravened the provisions of Telangana Forest Act 1967 and Section 2 and 3 of Forest Conservation Act 1980. He further submits that on 02.12.2022 two cases were booked against the petitioner under Telangana Forest Act, 1967 and Forest conservation Act, 1980 for illegally occupying forest lald in compartment No.68 of Girgetpally Reserve Forests by way of Acs.2.O6 guntas of establishing crusher and an extent of Acs.04.O7^guntas for dumping extracted metal and for illegal trespassing ln compartment No.68 of Girgetpally Reserve Forest.

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5, Learned Senior Counscl Sri Vcdula Srinivas contended

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that the Mincs an,1 Gcology Authorities have 1,1ra.rted quarry leases in favour or petitioner for total extent. of 1.,:s.15.20 guntas in Survev No 22il of Girgetpally village aft<:r ,on:;idering the report subnritte I b1, the revenuc authoritics, ex(),:)uted the lease in favour of the Jrer-itioners and pursuant ro th r: same only the petitioner is car ling out quarr-y operations in t.tr: said area ald the petitioner h Ls not errcroachcd or occupred arr'.. portion of the land belonging 1o the Respondcnt/Forest I):parLment. He further submits th:rt thr-' survey report of Insprr;,or Survey O/o Assistant Sun :1. and Lands records, ckrarlr, r.cveals that Respondent/ F o est Dcpzrrtme nt is in excess posr;c,ssion of land to an extent of A;s.28.00 guntas in Survcy No.2l,l8 by being in possession of A:s,.337.35 guntas against the la:1,:l of Acs.309.00 guntas allotted -o it. The Mandal Surveyor, Vika:-irbzLd conducted Survey ald sul rnitted a Survey report staling r.l.:.at land allotted to the Respor Cr:nt/Forr:st Dcpartment in S-:rve,/ No.228 is Acs.309 00 gur tas out of the total extent ,rf Acs;692.35 guntas. Where as the ol cst area dcrivr:d as per ltiltar s; cr:cted on the

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ground is Acs.406.00 guntas and showing that the Respondent/ Forest Department is in exce ss occupation of Acs.97.00 guntas in Survey No.228.

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5.1 He further contended that this Court in W.P. No.38122 of 2Ol4 granted interim order on 17.12.2014 directing the Assistant Director of Survey and Land records to conduct survey ald demarcate the land after giving notice to the petitioner and other affected persons. The Inspector of Survey, Ranga Reddy District conducted Survey and submitted report on 19.O1.2015 pursuant to the orders passed by this Court. He further submits that Mandal Surveyor, Vikzrrabad also conducted survey and submitted survey report dated:nil to the Tahsildar, Tandur Mandal, Vikarabad District stating that in Survey No. 148 to an extent of Acs.7.16 guntas area is falling in the forest boundaries and in Survey No.228 mining pit area to an extent of Ac.1.OO and mining crusher and metal dumping a-rea to an extent of Acs.6.13 guntas and total an extent of Acs.7.13 guntas is fa-lling in forest

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boundary and t Le nrining area to the extent of 1.,:s. 1 1.23 guntas is falling in Gor :rnrnent Land. According lo th,: said report the mining pit area ftrlling in forest boundaries is orrly Ac. 1.00 and the remaining z re a belor-rgs to revenue departm,:r'Lt. He submits that the Inspe< tor of Survey, Ranga Redcly [)irstri<:t submitted report dated 19 01.20 15 contrary to the Survey r,3p()rt furnished by the Mandal Survcyc,r, Vikarabad and both l,hc reports are lnconsls ten t.

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5.2 He u;:ther submits that rcspondent I'Jo.1 passed the impugned or( er: vide relerence No. 17547 '202.2 I A2 dated 28.11.2022 all< ging thaL the petitioner has aclmitted that he is in possession of lorest arca and there hc com r itLr:d the forest offence and th rs is liable for action as per lar.,, i,rrc. directed the petitioner to v..cate the: forest land. Though 1he Jretitioner has not admitted il zrny proc:eedings that he is in p,rs;se:;sion of forest land. Since 1 re petitioner's specihc conten ti,ln is that the Respondent/F rrest Department is in exce:ii occupation of

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Acs.97.00 guntas in Survey No.228 and the^{petitioner has not} occupied any extent of land belonging to the Respondent/Forest Department, the responde nt authorities without fixing^the boundary of forest land, are not entitled^{toinitiateany} proceedings including passing of the impugned order against^the petitioner

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5.3 Learned Government Pleader vehemently^contended that the writ petition filed by the^{petitioner questioningthe} impugned notice dated 28. ll.2022 issued by^{respondentNo.4 rs} not maintainable under law on the^{groundthat the petitioner has} established stone crusher and dumping^{extractedmeta,l in the} forest area belonging to the Respondent/Forest^{Department and} the respondents rightly issued^{the impugnedproceedings.}

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He further contended that the subject^{land pertains to} the forest land and it was notihed under Girgetpally^Reserve Forest Block, Vikarabad Taluk und.er Section 4 of^ForestAct 1967 and ryblished^{AndhraPradesh GazetteNo.2O-Ddated}

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(

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22'o5'1975 and the mining authorities have no ri6:,ht to grant any lease in favour ci the petitioners. In supp.rt or. his contentions the learned Gor:rnment Pleader relied uporr the jud,3mcnt of the Hon'ble Supr me court reported irr 7...N.Godavarman Trhiumulkpad Vs. tJnion of Ind.ia and others:

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Havirg r:onsidered the rival strbmi;s;iorLs made by respective part 3s and thc material availiiblc () n rccord, it is undisputed fac that thc Dcputy Dircctor of Min,.:s and Geologz granteci quarr / leases on 22.O2.2OO./, I 1, .O1 .2OOg and 22.o1.2oo9 res.re6fivs]y in favour of the petitior.r:r and Assistant Director of min, s and Geology executed lease dc,:Cs in respect of total extenr of .anrr Acs. 15.20 in survcy No.2:2ti of Girgetparly Village in three lifft:rent lease deeds.

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8 The pe itioner filed two writ petitions viz., \A,.p.No.3g112 of 2ol4 q,esti rnirLg the show cause notrce d.,cd 19. rr.2ol4 issued by Sub collector, vikarabad and w.p.rir.r.3:157 of 2015

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1 1997(2)SCC 267

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't7

questioning the notice dated 24.01.2015 issued by Assistant Conservator of Forests, Vikarabad. In W.P.No.38l12 of 2014, this Court directed the Assistant Director of Survey and Land records to conduct survey for demarcation and fixation of boundaries in Survey No.228 and I48 of Girgetpally village, Vikarabad Mandal after giving notices to the petitioner and a-ll other affected persons by its order dated 17.12.2014 which reads

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as follows:

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l,carned Government Pleader for Revcnue has received instructions from the Sub-Collector, Vikarabad Division - the 66 respondent, which prima facie show that the survey was conducted by the Tahsildar, Vikarabad Mandal, on 15. 1I.2014, including the location sketch on the petitioners lease in Covernment land. However, the Assistant Diarector of Survey and I-a.nd Records, Rangareddy District , was rcquested to conduct survey by the Sub-Collector, vikarrabad, for demarcation and fixing the boundaries in Survey Nos.228 and I48 of Girgetpally village, Vikarabad Mandal.

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Since, the survey is proposed to be conducted, the Sub-Collector, however, shall ensure that the Assistant director of Survey and [,and Records conducts the survey, as ordered, aafter giving notice to the petitioners and all other affected persons and complete the demarcation and survey work on or before 15.01.2015.

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The specific contention of the learned senior counsel for

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the petitioner is that Assistant Dircctor o[ Survey and Land

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Records has not conductcd survey and demirrcate.rl the tand and fixed boundaries be1-ween Survey No.228 and 1413 of Girgetpally village, Vikarab rcl Mandal. Unless anrl urLtil the survey authorities flx t rc ltoundaries to the lorcst lar rj irL respect of Acs.309.00 gun as the Respondent/Forest Dep:Lrtnrent rs not entitled to cont( ad that the petitioner is in pos:;e:ssion ol forest land. According to the Mandal Surveyor Report, 1he (lovernment allotted Acs.3O9 00 gunl,as to the Reserveri ller;tr:ondent/Forest Departmcnt an< the re:naining extent of land ltelrtngs to the Revenue Depar -ntent. .A.ccording to the sur/cry report, the Respondent/For :st Department is in possession :,1. excess land in Survey No.22B.^'lhe petitioner's contentiorr is :trat he is doing mining operatior in the land which was allottr::l bg the Mines and Geology € rrhorities eind he is not cloin,g any mining operations in th r lbrest land

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1O. Admi tediy, the two reports subnritrerI by Inspector of Survey, Ranga Rerldy District dated 19.01.2C t5 ,end Mandal

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't_9

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Surveyor, Vikarabad report dated nil are inconsistent

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The contention of learned Government Pleader for Forest is that according to the petitioner, the Mines and Geologr authorities have granted lease hold rights for quarry operations in favour of the petitioner for certain extent of lands covered by lease agreements as mentioned supra, and thc petitioner is not entitled to enter into morc than the said extent of lands, but the 1S petitioner doing mining operations and installed stone crushing unit and also dumping extracted metal in the forest land.

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L2. The dispute between the petitioner and Respondent/Forest Department is purely disputed question of fact, which has to be determined and resolved by competent authorities i.e., revenue department by conducting survey. Unless and until the survey is conducted and boundaries are fixed by issuing notice to the petitioner and other affected parties including Respondent/Forest Department, the real truth will not

I tl

come out. Wh:thr:r the petitioner 1S ( arrv lt q oul quarrv operatlons erncl r ther works in the area allotted t,r hinr or not and whether thr: ex, ess lancl occupied by the petit rtner. belongs to Respondent/For :st Department cannot be det:rmined, unress and until the c, ncerned authorities condur:t su rr,,ey and hx the boundaries.

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In vie' z ,:rf the lbrcgoing reasons, u,itho _rl going into the other aspects o the case, thcse writ petitions arre disposed of directing the A sist_ant Director of Survcy anc Land Records, Ranga Reddy D slrict to conduct survey and fi: the boundaries after issuing no' ice to the petitioner and aI otJrc - ,rfr:cted parties including Respc r<rent/Forest Department u-ithir ^ period o[ one (1) month from^. ht: date of receipt of the copy .f rhis rtrder. If the said survel, re rort reveals that the petitio ne r oc cupied any portion of land relonging to Respondent/Forest t)ep.rtment ald doing quarrlz o reration or other activitie s viz., inr;tallation of stone crushing _rnit and dumping extracted me li,Ll in thc lorest

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land, Respondent/Forest Department is entitled to take steps in accordance with law. Till the entire exercise is completed the respondent/Forest Department is directed not to take any coercive steps against the petitioner.

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L4. Accordingly, the writ petitions are disposed of. No

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costs.

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As a sequel thereto, miscellaneous applications, if any,

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pending in this writ petition shall stand closed

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Sd/.C.PRAOEEN^KUMAR ASSISTANT^REGISTRAR

//TRUE COPY//

.\l

SECTION OFFICER

To 'l . The Principal Secretary, Revenue^{DepartmentSecretariat Buildings' State of} Telanoana at Hvderabad.

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, il;i;;il;Ip;i^{s6it"trtv,ro*stDepartment Secretariat Buildings' state of} Telanoana at Hvderabad.

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The DYrstrict Collector'^{Rangareddy District'}

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;. iii; iil c;;t"*iioi^{or F6rests,'Sub DFo Vikarabad'Hvderabad Forest} Division.

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S. it e Oirector^{of Mines and GeologyHyd.erabad'} . . ^ o. iii" Sru C"tl&tor,^{Vikarabad Divilion,Rangared-dyDistrict'} i. iii"iin".itoar,^{VikarabadMandal,Rangareddv District'} i). i;; bfii;^{Gij ion ieveuuE, Hish court foi the state of relansanaat} Hvderabad. [OUT]

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e. i'il"bt,;i" 6irbR^{ronesrs,High court for rhe Srate of Telansana at} Hvderabad. [OUT]

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Hvderabad. [OUT]

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10.i,il"ct;[;6crbn^{uruesANDGEOLOGY, Highcourtfor the State of} Telanqana at^{HYderabad.[OUT1}

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11 ffi;'i6'i; Sjir.Gourn^{SntrutVns, Advocate [oPUC]} ii.5;; cc io^{S'rr,rt.veoumcHITRALEKHA, Adygcalq (oPUc)} i5.o;; aa io^{SRl.R.vlNoDREDDY,Advocate (oPUc)}

14.Two CD^Copies

\ -

HIGH COUI IT DATED:171 t312023

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COMMON^,)RDER

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WP.Nos.44 043 of 2022, 3557 of 20' 5 and 38122 ot 2014

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