Thiruvannamalai District Stone Quarry Crusher And v. The Additional Chief Secretary To Government
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 09.12.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR. MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN W.M.P.No.52773 of 2025 and W.P.No.47239 of 2025 Thiruvannamalai District Stone Quarry Crusher and MSand Owners Welfare Association Rep. by its President, Raji Dharuman, Having its registered office at No.1, Balaji Complex, Mangal Koot Road, Vembakkam Taluk, Thiruvannamalai-631 702.
Vs
1. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Natural Resources Department, Dept of Geology and Mining Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort St. George, Chennai-09 and 5 others
For Petitioner(s):
Mr.P.S.Prabu For Respondent(s):
Mr.E.Vijay Anand Additional Government Pleader
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) We have heard learned counsel on either side.
2. The issue raised in this writ petition is similar to the one considered by us in W.M.P.No.20584 of 2025 in W.P.No.18383 of 2025 [Crusher Owners Federation Hosur and others v. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government and others], wherein, by order dated 25.11.2025, interim relief was granted to the petitioners therein on following terms:
"10. In view of the above consideration, though we are not inclined to stay the effect and operation of the impugned Act, in so far as levy of mineral bearing land tax is concerned, we are inclined to pass an interim order to the following effect: In case the petitioners deposit 75% of the levy, the recovery of the balance 25% shall
remain in abeyance, subject to petitioners filing undertaking before this court within two weeks that in the event of dismissal, the balance amount shall be deposited by each of the petitioners within two months.
11. The prayer for grant of interim relief is accordingly partly allowed in the manner and to the extent as stated above. The interim applications seeking stay and injunction are disposed of accordingly.
3. Considering the fact that the challenge raised and the issue involved in the present case is similar to that in the case referred supra, the interim order passed in the aforesaid decision shall govern the petitioner in this case also. The interim application is disposed of accordingly.
4. Post the writ petition along with W.P.No.18383 of 2025 and batch cases during second week of February, 2026.
(MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA,CJ) (G.ARUL MURUGAN,J) 09.12.2025 sasi To:
1 THE ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT DEPT OF GEOLOGY AND MINING GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU FORT ST. GEORGE CHENNAI-600 009.
2 THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY INDUSTRIES (MMD-1) DEPARTMENT GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU FORT ST. GEORGE CHENNAI-600 009 3 THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY LAW DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU FORT ST. GEORGE, CHENNAI-600 009.
4 THE COMMISSIONER OF GEOLOGY AND MINING DEPT OF GEOLOGY AND MINING GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU GUINDY CHENNAI-600 032.
5 THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR THIRUVANNAMALAI DISTRICT, THIRUVANNAMALAI.
6. THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINING, THIRUVANNAMALAI DISTRICT.
THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND G.ARUL MURUGAN,J.
(sasi) W.M.P.No.52773 of 2025 in W.P.No.47239 of 2025 9.12.2025