Top court stays HC order to grant mining lease

The Supreme Court has stayed a High Court of Karnataka’s order directing the state government to grant mining lease to Asha Mining Company for 25 acres at Sandur taluk in Ballari district.

A bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta suspended the operation of the high court’s judgement passed on January 6, last year.

The court issued notice to Asha Mining Company and its partner Asha Muhammed Haroon on a special leave petition filed by the Karnataka government.

The state government, represented by Additional Advocate General Devadatta Kamat, challenged the
high court’s order passed on a writ petition by the mining company on the ground that the approval of the central government was available for grant of mining lease under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.

The court sought response from the company also on an application filed by the
state for condonation of delay in filing the special leave petition.

The top court had earlier stayed similar orders for grant of lease in favour of Anjaneya P Kadam and Allum Prasanth, son of former KPCC president and minister Allum Veerabhadrappa, for 40 acres and 19.50 hectares of land respectively.

The court also stayed another order by high court for grant of mining lease to Ms Doddannavar Brothers.