31. Preferential right of certain persons

(1) Where two or more persons have applied for quarrying lease in respect of the same land the applicant whose application was received earlier shall have preferential right for the grant of the lease over an applicant whose application was received later. 

(2) The Government or the competent authority may, for special reasons to be recorded grant a quarrying lease to an applicant whose application was received later in preference to an applicant whose application was received earlier.