E.N.Sudharsanam v. The District Collector

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 23.03.2026 CORAM :

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI and W.M.P.No.5644 of 2024 E.N.Sudharsanam .. Petitioner

Versus

1. The District Collector, Ranipet District, Ranipet.

2. The District Collector, Vellore District,

3. The District Collector, Tiruvallur District, Tiruvallur.

4. The Commissioner of Geology and Mining, Department of Geology and Mining, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.

5. The Deputy/Assistant Director of Geology and Mining, Department of Geology and Mining, Vellore District, 1/6

6. The Tahsildar, Ambattur.

7. The District Treasuries and Accounts Officer, Department of Treasuries and Accounts, No.57, Bharathiyar Salai, Fort Round Road,

8. The Chief Accountant General, 361, Anna Salai, Rostrevor Garden, Teynampet, Chennai - 600 018.

.. Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records on the file of the 1st respondent in Na.Ka.No.200-26/2018 (mineral), dated 24.01.2024 and quash the same as illegal and further direct the 7th and 8th respondents to refund the amount of Rs.2,80,000/- (Rupees Two Lakh Eighty Thousand only) to the petitioner.

For Petitioner : Mr.K.V.Sanjeev Kumar, for Ms.Reshmi Christy For Respondents : Mr.Stalin Abimanyu, Additional Government Pleader, for RR-1 to 7

ORDER

This Writ Petition is filed to call for the records on the file of the first respondent in Na.Ka.No.200-26/2018 (mineral), dated 24.01.2024, to quash the same as illegal and to direct the respondent Nos.7 and 8 to refund the amount of Rs.2,80,000/- (Rupees Two Lakh Eighty Thousand 2/6

only) to the petitioner.

2. It is the contention of the petitioner that the petitioner was granted quarrying rough stone license on 08.09.2008. However, subsequently, as per the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in Common Cause Vs. Union of India and Ors. Reported in (2017) 9 SCC 499, the petitioner has to obtain Environmental Clearance Certificate. For not obtaining the certificate, the second respondent imposed a penalty for a sum of Rs.97,62,000/-. After deducting the petitioner's amount, finally, they demanded Rs.94,82,000/-. Challenging the same, the present Writ Petition is filed.

3. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that the issue is no longer res integra. The Division Bench of this Court in a batch of Writ Petitions in W.A.No.671 of 2020, by its order, dated 15.02.2024 issued a direction to the petitioners therein to treat the impugned order as showcause notice and file objection before the first respondent. After hearing the petitioner, the first respondent can pass the appropriate orders.

4. Learned Additional Government Pleader for the respondent 3/6

Nos.1 to 7 did not dispute the facts submitted by the learned Counsel for the petitioner.

5. In view of the above, the petitioner is directed to treat the impugned order as show-cause notice and make objection before the first respondent and the first respondent is directed to conduct adjudication after hearing the petitioner and pass appropriate orders within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

6. With the above directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

23.03.2026 Index : yes/no Speaking order/Non-speaking order : yes/no grs To

1. The District Collector, Ranipet District, Ranipet.

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2. The District Collector, Vellore District,

3. The District Collector, Tiruvallur District, Tiruvallur.

4. The Commissioner of Geology and Mining, Department of Geology and Mining, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.

5. The Deputy/Assistant Director of Geology and Mining, Department of Geology and Mining, Vellore District,

6. The Tahsildar, Ambattur.

7. The District Treasuries and Accounts Officer, Department of Treasuries and Accounts, No.57, Bharathiyar Salai, Fort Round Road,

8. The Chief Accountant General, 361, Anna Salai, Rostrevor Garden, Teynampet, Chennai - 600 018.

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M.DHANDAPANI, J.

grs and W.M.P.No.5644 of 2024 23.03.2026 6/6