D.Manigandan v. The District Collector
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 01.06.2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN D.Manigandan No.16, Ram Nagar, Amanambakkam Village Thamaraipakkam post - 601103 Tiruvallur Taluk and District.
:
Petitioner Vs 1.The District Collector District Collectorate, Thiruvallur - 602001.
2.The Commissioner Department of Geology and Mining, Guindy Chennai - 600032.
3.The Chief Engineer Water Resources Department, Chennai zone Chepauk, Chennai - 600005.
4.The Deputy Director Department of Geology and Mining District Collectorate Master Plan Complex Thiruvallur - 602 001.
5.The Executive Engineer Water Resources Department Kosasthalaiyar Basin Division Thiruvallur - 602 001.
6.The Revenue Divisional Officer Thiruvallur Sub-Division, Thiruvallur - 602 001.
7.The Tahsildar Uthukkottai Taluk Office Thiruvallur District - 602 026.
8.G.Kandasamy 47/12, Thanthai Periyar Salai Rajajipuram Tiruvallur.
:
Respondents Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a Writ of Mandamus directing the 1st respondent to constitute an expert committee comprising officials from the Department of Geology and Mining, Water Resources Department and Public Works Department, to inspect the Public Works Department lake situated in Survey No.294(part), Athangikavanur Village, Uthukottai Taluk, Tiruvallur District and file a report before this Court with regard to the excess quantity of ordinary earth soil excavated from the said lake and consequently direct the 1st respondent to assess and recover the loss caused to the Government exchequer on account of quarrying of ordinary earth in excess of the quantity permitted under proceedings in No.270/2018/Mines.2 dated 07.07.2025 on the file of the 1 st respondent and further direct the 1st respondent to initiate penal proceedings against the license holder/8th respondent for quarrying excess quantitiy of the earth soil.
For Petitioner :
Mr.A.Kalaivanan For Respondents :
Mr.R.Veeramani, Government Pleader, for respondents 1 to 7
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) This petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeks a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to constitute a team of experts to inspect and file a report, with regard to the alleged excess excavation made by the eighth respondent in the subject lake.
2. Learned State counsel informs that the lease granted in favour of the eighth respondent has been cancelled. Respondent No.8 has already filed writ petition in WP No.15223 of 2026, challenging the said cancellation and the learned Single Judge has issued notice to the respondents and sought their reply.
3. Since the issue is pending before the learned Single Judge, we are not inclined to entertain this petition at this stage. However, the petitioner would be at liberty to approach the learned Single Judge by filing appropriate application.
4. With this liberty, this petition is disposed of. There will be no order as to costs. Consequently, WMP Nos.19217 and 19214 of 2026 are closed.
(SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CJ.) (G.ARUL MURUGAN, J.) 01.06.2026 Index : Yes/No tar To 1.The District Collector, Thiruvallur - 602001. 2.The Commissioner Department of Geology and Mining, Guindy, Chennai - 600032.
THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND G.ARUL MURUGAN , J.
(tar) 3.The Chief Engineer Water Resources Department, Chennai zone Chepauk, Chennai - 600005.
4.The Deputy Director Department of Geology and Mining District Collectorate Master Plan Complex Thiruvallur - 602 001.
5.The Executive Engineer Water Resources Department Kosasthalaiyar Basin Division Thiruvallur - 602 001.
6.The Revenue Divisional Officer Thiruvallur Sub-Division Thiruvallur - 602 001. 7.The Tahsildar Uthukkottai Taluk Office Thiruvallur District - 602 026.
01.06.2026