Rangadurai, v. The District Collector,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 10-02-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA and WMP NO. 4742 OF 2026 Rangadurai, ..Petitioner(s) Vs
1. The District Collector, Collectorate Buildings, Coimbatore-641 018.
2. The Sub Collector/Revenue Divisional Officer, Sub Collector/Revenue Divisional Office, Pollachi,
3. The Tahsildar, Tahsildar office, Pollachi,
4. The Revenue Inspector, Office of the Revenue Inspector, Ramapattinam Firka, Ramanathapuram, Pollachi Taluk,
5. The Village Administrative Officer, Village Administrative office, Puravipalayam, Pollachi Taluk, Coimbatore District-642110
6. The Commissioner, Department of Geology and Mining, Guindy-Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai 600 032
7. The Assistant Director of Mines, Geology and Mines Department, Collectorate Buildings, Coimbatore-641018
8. The Member Secretary, District Environment Impact Assessment Authority, 3rd Floor,Panagal Maligai, No.1,Jeenis Road, Saidapettai,Chennai-18
9. The District Environment Engineer, District Pollution Control Board, Coimbatore South Office, Plot No.E-55A,SIDCO Industrial Estate, Pollachi Main Road, Kurichi, Coimbatore District-641021 10.
The Special Officer/Block Development Officer, Block Development Officer, Pollachi North Union, Pollachi, ..Respondent(s) PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a writ of mandamus directing the 1st respondent to pass final orders on the petitioner's representation dated 24.12.2025 seeking not to grant any permission for quarry in S.F.No.348 Puravipalayam Village,Pollachi North Taluk, Coimbatore District in accordance with law after providing opportunity to the petitioner within the stipulated period as that may be fixed by this Court. For Petitioner(s):
Mr.N.Umapathi For Respondent(s):
Mr.Stalin Abhimanyu Additional Government Pleader
ORDER
The petitioner has filed the above writ petition for a writ of mandamus seeking a direction to the 1st respondent to consider and pass final orders on his representation dated 24.12.2025, within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.
2. The petitioner is an agriculturist residing at Puravipalayam Village, Pollachi Taluk, Coimbatore District, and owns agricultural lands in S.F. No. 685/3D having purchased the same under a Partition Deed dated 02.11.2011 on the file of the Sub-Registrar Office, Pollachi. A proposal has been made to establish a stone quarry and stone crushing/MSand unit in Survey Nos.334 and 348. The petitioner and several villagers residing within 500 meters of the proposed site, whose livelihood depends entirely on agriculture, have submitted objections opposing the said proposal.
3. The petitioner apprehends that the establishment of the quarry and crusher unit would result in severe environmental consequences, including depletion of groundwater, air and noise pollution, and structural
damage to nearby residential houses. The lands in question are classified as Government poramboke lands meant for public utility purposes, wherein electricity lines, pipelines, roads and other public infrastructure are situated. The Gram Sabha has also passed resolutions opposing the grant of permission for such quarry operations.
4. It is further contended that the proposed site is situated in close proximity to residential areas and a temple of religious importance, thereby violating the prescribed distance criteria under the applicable Pollution Control Board norms and the Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules. Despite the detailed representation dated 24.12.2025 submitted by the petitioner pointing out the aforesaid violations, the respondents have not considered the same nor passed any orders thereon. Hence, the petitioner is constrained to approach this Court.
5. Heard the learned counsels on both sides and perused the materials available on record.
6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, without going into the merits of the case, this Court directs the 1st respondent to consider
and pass appropriate orders on the petitioner's representation dated 24.12.2025 after affording an opportunity of personal hearing to the petitioner as well as other interested parties, on merits and in accordance with law, within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 10-02-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order SRN To
1. The District Collector, Collectorate Buildings, Coimbatore-641 018.
2. The Sub Collector/Revenue Divisional Officer, Sub Collector/Revenue Divisional Office, Pollachi, Coimbatore District-642001
3. The Tahsildar, Tahsildar office, Pollachi, Coimbatore District-642001
4. The Revenue Inspector, Office of the Revenue Inspector, Ramapattinam Firka, Ramanathapuram, Pollachi Taluk,
5. The Village Administrative Officer, Village Administrative office, Puravipalayam, Pollachi Taluk, Coimbatore District-642110
6. The Commissioner, Department of Geology and Mining, Collectorate Buildings, Coimbatore- 641018
7. The Assistant Director of Mines, Geology and Mines Department, Collectorate Buildings, Coimbatore-641018
8. Member Secretary, District Environment Impact Assessment Authority, 3rd Floor,Panagal Maligai, No.1,Jeenis Road, Saidapettai, Chennai-18
9. District Environment Engineer, District Pollution Control Board, Coimbatore South Office, Plot No.E-55A,SIDCO Industrial Estate, Pollachi Main Road, Kurichi, Coimbatore District-641021 10.
The Special Officer/Block Development Officer, Block Development Officer, Pollachi North Union, Pollachi,
P.T.ASHA J.
SRN AND WMP NO. 4742 OF 2026 10-02-2026