JUDGMENT 1. - The petitioner is aggrieved by the action of the respondents in directing to submit approval of the Central Government within a period of six months. Annex.3 was issued wherein the legal opinion was given as under:- "In respect of the mining operations being carried out on forests lands leased before the commencement of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 during the continuance of the lease period, the approval of the Central Govt. under section 2 of the said Act is not required." 2. Reliance has been placed on the decision of Anupama Minerals Vs. UOI and others, AIR 1986 Andhra Pradesh 225 wherein it was observed that the approval of the Central Government under section 2 can be sought either by the State Government or by other authority. This power which can be exercised by the State Government or the authority in respect of various purposes mentioned in Section 2 of the Act of 1980. 3. So far as this contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner is concerned, the provisions of Section 2 of the Act of 1980 and Rule 4 of the Rules of 1981 are very clear that the application has to be submitted by the State Government or the authority and the individual cannot make the application seeking the prior approval directing any of the purposes mentioned under section 2. 4. Learned counsel for the respondents has also pointed put that there were certain defects in the application which have been removed. There is matter of procedure if any compliance has to be made by the petitioner and complete the deficiency and if the State Government feels that prior approval of the Central Government is required the application be sent to the Central Government. 5. The writ petition is disposed of with the above observations.Petition disposed of. *******