Judgment : The Court: The petitioner in this WP under art.226 of the Constitution of India dated October 5, 2012 is seeking a mandamus commanding the respondents to consider and dispose of his application for a long term mining lease dated January 15, 1998. Mr. Chatterjee appearing for the petitioner has submitted that the respondents did not dispose of the petitioner’s application in compliance with an order of this Court dated November 16, 2004 (W P p.21) passed in the petitioner’s previous WP No.16914(W) of 2004. The order dated November 16, 2004 reveals that it was passed considering the petitioner’s allegation that his application for a long term mining lease dated January 13, 1998 had not been considered by the respondents in that W P. As noted hereinbefore this WP has been filed alleging that the respondents did not dispose of an application of the petitioner for a long term mining lease dated January 15, 1998. However, a copy of the application produced with the W P shows that it was dated January 13, 1998. If the application is dated January 13, 1998, then in view of the order of this Court dated November 16, 2004 the petitioner cannot maintain this W P. Nothing has entitled him to seek a fresh order directing the respondents to consider and dispose of his application. If the application for mining lease is dated January 15, 1998, then in my opinion, this WP should be dismissed of on the grounds of delay and laches alone. It is immaterial that the relevant rules did not provide for any limitation to dispose of the application. The application was filed under the West Bengal Minor Minerals Rules, 1973. They were repealed by the 2002 rules. The 2002 rules have been amended in 2011. The law has undergone a radical change. At present public auction is the procedure. In my opinion, an order directing the respondents to consider the petitioner’s 1998 application will defeat the public interest. For these reasons, I dismiss the WP. No costs.