Section 23 in The Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1994
23. Priority.
(1)If more than one application for a quarrying lease over the same area is received under rule 21, preference shall be given to the applications in the order of date of receipt.(2)If more than one application over the same area is received under rule 21 on the same day, preference shall be given to the applicants in the following order, namely;(i)application from a person belonging to economically weaker sections of society who is a quarry operator by tradition and whose livelihood depended entirely on quarrying of ordinary minor minerals;(ii)application from any Co-operative Society Registered under the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act,1959 all the members of which are bonded labourers, freed and discharged in accordance with section 4 of the "Bonded labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 (Central Act .19 of 1976);(iii)application from any Co-operative Society Registered under the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act,1959 all the members of which belong to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes;(iv)Sculptors;(v)all other applications in order of receipt and date of application, on first-come first basis;(3)Notwithstanding anything obtained in sub-rules (1) and (2),in the case of an applied area which is free for grant but is already being worked and in possession of persons belonging to the categories (i),(ii) or (iii) of sub-rule (2) above, irrespective of whether they are members of a Co-operative Society or not, they shall, by a written notice be called upon to stop unauthorised quarrying, if any, unless such quarrying is regularised within a period of one month time from the date of issue of notice. If no such persons or their Registered Society make applications within the said period of one month, any pending application in respect of such area shall be processed in accordance with priorities under sub-rule (1) .(4)Not withstanding any thing contained in sub-rules (1) and (2) ,the Competent Authority may reserve or grant any area for quarrying in lands belonging to the State Government, in favour of State or Central Government undertakings or Government Departments provided that applications from them is received before the execution of lease deed.
