Madras High CourtWP/17277/2018disposed of

V.Madurai Viran, v. The Chief Secretary,

2018-08-14Honourable Mr Justice Huluvadi G. Ramesh,Honourable Mr Justice K. Kalyanasundaram3 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 14.08.2018

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HULUVADI G.RAMESH AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.KALYANASUNDARAM W.P.No.17277 of 2018 V.Madurai Viran ...

Petitioner -vs1.The Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort St.George, Chennai.

2.The District Collector, District Collectorate, Villupuram District, Villupuram.

3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Villupuram District, Villupuram.

4.The Assistant Director of Mines, Mines Department, Villupuram District, Villupuram.

5.The Tahsildar, Vikravandi Taluk, Villupuram District, Villupuram.

6.The Superintendent of Police, Villupuram District, Villupuram.

7.The Inspector of Police, Kandamangalam Police Station, Kandamangalam, Villupuram District.

8.The Chief Secretary, Chief Secretariat, Union Territory of Puducherry.

9.The Senior Superintendent of Police (L&O), Orleanpet, Union Territory of Puducherry. ...

Respondents Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to take appropriate measures to stop illegal

sand quarrying from the entire Sankaraparani River originating from Veedur, Villupuram District extending till Bay of Bengal, Union Territory of Puducherry. For Petitioner ::

Mr.K.S.Ilangovan for M/s.Achari and Antoni Associates For Respondents::

Mr.E.Manoharan, AGP for R1 to R7 Mr.J.Kumaran,Govt.Advocate (Pondy) for R8 and R9

ORDER

(Made by HULUVADI G.RAMESH, J.) This writ petition has been filed as a Public Interest Litigation, for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to take appropriate measures to stop illegal sand quarrying from the entire Sankaraparani river originating from Veedur, Villupuram District extending till Bay of Bengal, Union Territory of Puducherry. 2.When this matter was taken up on 31.07.2018, the learned counsel for the petitioner submitted before this Court that only the first recommendation, ie., erecting iron pillars at the river entrance, has not been complied with and the same would be complied with, within a period of two weeks. Hence, the matter was directed to be posted today and accordingly this writ petition has been posted today before us.

3.Today, when the matter has been taken up, a Status Report has been filed on behalf of the respondents, duly signed by the Assistant Director, Geology and Mining, Collectorate, Villupuram and the District Collector, Villupuram District, in which it is stated that iron pillars have been erected at Sankaraparani river entrance with an interval of two feet between the iron pillars paving way for the general public to use them as passage and to reach the burial ground followed by trenches for the roads starting from Chinnammankuppam, Periyamankuppam, Kendiyankuppam, Thandavamurthikuppam and Sadiayandikuppam into the river. It is also stated that Police Department have installed iron stop gate and Police Check Post in Kendiyankuppam route to prevent the illegal sand quarrying from Ammanankuppam.

It is further stated that the action taken by the officials concerned has been reviewed by the District Collector, Villupuram District, in the monthly Sand Co-ordination Meeting and the District Level Task Force Meeting.

inspection in the subject area and are taking effective steps to curtail illegal quarrying.

4.Recording the above, the writ petition is disposed of, as we find substantive compliance of the directions issued by this Court. No costs.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS vii) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar KM To 1.The Chief Secretary to Government, Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort St.George, Chennai.