- (1.) These writ petitions are directed against the action of the respondents in cancelling the Letter of Intent (LoI) dated 12.1.15 issued in favour of the petitioners for grant of mining leases of various mining areas, on the ground that by virtue of the provisions of Section 10A (1) introduced in Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 (for short " the Act of 1957"), vide Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Amendment Ordinance, 2015 (for short "Amendment Ordinance, 2015"), the applications preferred by the petitioners for grant of mining lease, have become ineligible and thus, LoIs issued in their favour, are void and nonest.
(2.) The relevant facts are that the petitioners herein applied for grant of mining leases for different mining areas. The applications preferred were considered by the competent authority and the LoIs were issued in favour of the petitioners by the authority concerned on 12.1.15. The LoIs issued have been cancelled by the different orders passed by the authority concerned on the ground that by virtue of provisions of Section 10A(1) of the Act of 1957, as introduced vide Amendment Ordinance, 2015, all applications received prior to date of commencement of the Amendment Ordinance, 2015 i.e. 12.1.15, have become ineligible and thus, LoIs issued are void and nonest. Hence, these petitions.
(3.) Precisely, the case of the petitioners is that the LoIs having been issued in their favour, a right is vested in them, which cannot be taken away in perfunctory manner without extending them an opportunity of hearing. According to the petitioners the applications preferred by them for grant of mining lease were considered by the competent authority, prior to coming into force of the Amendment Ordinance, 2015 and therefore, the amendment introduced in no manner can affect adversely the rights vested in them on the strength of LoIs issued in their favour.;