Balagovindan v. The State Rep By

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 08.12.2020

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA Crl.O.P.No.19227 of 2020 Bala Govindan ... Petitioner

Versus

State rep.by ... Respondent The Inspector of Police, Mannargudi Police Station, Mannargudi, Tiruvarur District.

Crime No.111 of 2020.

Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 438 Cr.P.C. to enlarge petitioner on bail in the event of his arrest in connection with Crime No.111 of 2020, pending on the file of the respondent police.

For Petitioner : Mr.B.Jawahar For Respondent : Mr. M. Mohamed Riyaz, Additional Public Prosecutor

ORDER

(The case has been heard through video conference) The petitioner, who apprehends arrest for the alleged offence under Section 379 of IPC r/w Section 21(1) of the Tamil Nadu Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957, in Crime No.111 of 2020 on the file of the respondent police, seeks anticipatory bail.

2.The case of the prosecution as per the defacto complainant is that the petitioner had illegally transported two units of sand without any valid permission. Hence, the complaint. 3.The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is an innocent person and he has been falsely implicated in this case. He would further submit that he has not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. Hence, he prays for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

4. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that the petitioner without obtaining any permission from the Government had illegally dug the land and transported sand, thereby degraded the environment and caused damages to the ecology. Hence he vehemently https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/

opposed for the grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner. 5.This court is of the opinion that the offenders despite several orders passed by various benches of this court regarding illegal sand mining and knowing fully well about the evil consequences affecting the environment and society at large and the implications thereon are indulging in the offences of illegal quarrying/mining, theft and smuggling of sand and minerals. These cases come within the category of cases of large magnitude affecting and impacting livelihood of a very large number of people knowingly and unknowingly.

6.This Court finds that the discretionary power has been consciously and continuously misused by the offenders in an organised manner and this Court is of the firm opinion that the discretionary powers cannot be extended to persons indulging in illegal sand mining, smuggling and theft of sand and minerals.

7. In view of the order passed by this Court in Crl. OP No.13334 of 2020 etc. Batch, dated 03.09.2020, this Court is not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed. -sd/- 08/12/2020 This order, on being produced, be punctually observed and carried into execution by all concerned TRUE COPY Sub-Assistant Registrar (Statistics/C.S.) High Court, Madras - 600 104.

TO 1 THE DISTRICT MUNSIF-CUM JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE, NO.1, MANNARGUDI.

2 THE CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE THIRUVARUR. [FOR INFORMATION] 3 THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT, MADRAS.

4 THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, MANNARGUDI TOWN POLICE STATION, MANNARGUDI, TIRUVARUR DISTRICT.

CC to M/S. B.JAWAHAR Advocate on payment of necessary charges CRL OP.19227/2020 Date :08/12/2020 https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ TA-23/12/2020