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Judgment
This writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of the India seeking the following reliefs:-
“to issue a Writ, Order or Direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents, particularly respondent Nos.4 and 5, in seizing and continuing to retain the four empty tipper lorries bearing Registration Nos. AP 31 TD 2526, KA 41 9060, KA 35 B 9365 and AP 39 UA 2969, which were stationed outside the leased quarry area and were not carrying or transporting any mineral at the relevant time, without furnishing any seizure proceedings or disclosing the statutory basis or factual material justifying such seizure, as illegal, arbitrary, without jurisdiction and violative of Articles 14, 19(1)(g) and 300-A of the Constitution of India, and consequently direct the respondents to forthwith release the aforesaid four vehicles to their respective owners and pass such other order or orders….”
Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned Assistant Government Pleader for Mines and Geology appearing for the respondents.
Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners’ vehicles were seized by the respondent authorities without authority of law and in violation of the provisions of Sub-Rule (3)(iii) of Rule 26 of the Andhra Pradesh Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1966. He further submits that a direction may be given to the respondent authorities to pass appropriate orders for the release of the vehicles, and he relies on the decision of this Court passed in W.P.No.1570 of 2026 dated 20.01.2026.
Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Mines and Geology appearing for the respondents did not refute the submission made by the learned counsel for the petitioners since the issue involved in this writ petition is squarely covered by an earlier decision of this Court.
It is appropriate to extract the relevant Sub-Rule (3)(iii) of Rule 26 of the Andhra Pradesh Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1966:-
“For the sub-rule 3(iii) of Rule 26 of the Andhra Pradesh Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1966: If the Driver or owner of the vehicle fails to produce a valid transit permit issued by the concerned Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, the officer in charge of the check post or barrier or during the interception of the movement of the vehicle, may require the Driver or the owner of the vehicle to pay five times of the normal Seigniorage fee as penalty in addition to the normal Seigniorage fee along with DMF and MERIT amounts for the quantity not covered under the transit permit.”
Further, the Hon’ble Division Bench of this Court in Naganath Vs. State of A.P.1, interpreted the above quoted Rule and categorically held at Para No.7 as under:
“........... On a reading of the above Rule, there is nothing to indicate, the vehicle cannot be released, unless the penalty and 5 seigniorage fee is paid. All that the rule states is that the penalty equal to market value of the mineral seized along with seigniorage fee prevalent at that time can be ordered to be paid at the time of interception of the vehicle, if driver or person-incharge of the vehicle fails to produce a valid permit. But, nowhere the Rule postulates that the vehicle cannot be released, unless the same is paid.”
In addition, the Hon’ble Supreme Court, in the case of Sunderbhai Ambalal Desai Vs. State of Gurajat2, in its expression held that merely keeping vehicle would not serve any fruitful purpose.
Considering the submissions made by learned counsel on both sides and keeping in view the earlier orders passed by this Court, this Court is inclined to dispose of the Writ Petition at the stage of admission, with the consent of both parties, with the following directions:
The 3rd respondent is directed to pass appropriate orders in terms of Sub-Rule (3)(iii) of Rule 26 of the Andhra Pradesh Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1966, within a period of one week from today and collect the due seigniorage fee and penalty as per law;
ii) After levy of penalty and on payment of such penalty, the petitioners shall produce the receipt of such payment and ownership documents of the vehicles to the satisfaction of the 5th respondent.
iii) In such an event, the 5th respondent is hereby directed to release the seized vehicles of the petitioners i.e., Tipper Lorry bearing Nos. AP 31 TD 2526, KA 41 9060, KA 35 B 9365 and AP 39 UA 2969, with immediate effect.
There shall be no order as to costs.
As a sequel miscellaneous application, pending, if any, shall also stand closed.