In a recent court case, the petitioner, Sri Kudumula Srinivas, challenged a demand notice related to his quartz and feldspar mining operations in Telangana. The court, led by Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar, has directed Sri Kudumula Srinivas to respond to the notice, allowing the authorities to reconsider the case.
Sri Kudumula Srinivas received a demand notice from the Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, asking for over ₹65 lakhs in penalties and fees. This was because he allegedly extracted more quartz than allowed, as reported by a DGP survey in 2024. The notice warned that action would be taken under the Telangana Minor Mineral Concession Rules if the payment wasn't made within 15 days.
Sri Kudumula Srinivas argued that recent government notices said penalties for existing quartz mines would not apply until March 2026. These notices, issued by the Government of India and Telangana, were meant to guide regularization efforts. Despite this, the demand notice was issued without considering these guidelines.
Justice Kumar decided that Sri Kudumula Srinivas should send a reply to the demand notice. The court instructed the authorities to review this reply in light of the relevant notices. The court did not express any opinion on the case's merits, leaving it to the authorities to decide based on the law.
Sri Kudumula Srinivas now has one week to respond to the demand notice. The authorities will then reassess the situation and make a decision as soon as possible.
This case highlights the complexities in mining regulations and the importance of adhering to government guidelines.
