V.Sabapathy v. The Director (Mines And Minerals)
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 19-01-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA AND WMP No. 56339 of 2025 V.Sabapathy S/o.Palanigounder 82, Meramani Street Vettaikaran Pudhur Village Anaimalai Taluk Coimbatore District - 642 129.
..Petitioner(s) Vs
1. The Director (Mines and Minerals) Office of Director (Mines and Minerals), Collectorate Building, Coimbatore-18.
2. The Revenue Divisional Officer Pollachi Taluk, Coimbatore District.
3. The Tahsildar Anaimalai Taluk, Coimbatore District.
4. The Revenue Inspector Anaimalai Taluk, Coimbatore District.
5. The Village Administrative Officer Maarappagoundanpudhur Village Anaimalai Taluk, Coimbatore District.
..Respondent(s) __________Page 1 of 6
PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the order in O.Mu.No.2404/2025/A2 dated 15.07.2025 passed by the 2nd respondent, quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to grant permission to the petitioner to transport gravel sand from his wife's land in S.F. No.530 in Maarappagoundanpudhur Village of Anaimalai Taluk in Coimbatore District to the petitioner's land at S.F. No.458/2A, 457/2B1, 452/2, 450/1A in Vettaikaranpudhur Village of Anaimalai Taluk in Coimbatore District and pass orders.
For Petitioner(s):
Mr.N.Ponraj For Respondent(s):
Mr.Stalin Abhimanyu Additional Government Pleader [R1 to R5]
ORDER
The above writ petition has been filed seeking the following relief : "To issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the order in O.Mu.No.2404/2025/A2 dated 15.07.2025 passed by the 2nd respondent, quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to grant permission to the petitioner to transport gravel sand from his wife's land in S.F. No.530 in Maarappagoundanpudhur Village of Anaimalai Taluk in Coimbatore District to the petitioner's land at S.F. No.458/2A, 457/2B1, 452/2, 450/1A in Vettaikaranpudhur Village of Anaimalai Taluk in Coimbatore District."
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2. The case of the petitioner is that he owned certain extent of lands in S.F.No.458/2A, 457/2B1, 452/2, 450/1A in Vettaikaranpudhur Village of Anaimalai Taluk in Coimbatore District, where he had been doing his agricultural work. His wife owned a land in S.F.No.530 of Maarappagoundampudhur Village, Anaimalai Taluk in Coimbatore District. Due to heavy rain, the pathways that are running within the lands of the petitioner got damaged and in order to set in right, the petitioner had decided to transport the gravel sand available in the lands of his wife. Therefore, the petitioner made a representation on 02.04.2025 to the respondents seeking permission to transport the gravel sand from the lands of her wife to his land. The same was received by the office of the first respondent on 03.04.2025 itself.
The officials had visited the lands of the petitioner and upon considering the genuineness of the petitioner's case, the 4th and 5th respondents had granted permission vide proceedings dated 28.05.2025, to transport five tipper lorries of gravel sand. Be that as it may, the second respondent by impugned proceedings dated 15.07.2025 had directed the petitioner to submit his application through online portal. Aggrieved by the impugned order, the petitioner is before this Court.
3. The contention of the petitioner is that he had submitted his __________Page 3 of 6
representation as early as on 02.04.2025, subsequent to which, the officials had inspected his lands and had also granted permission to transport the gravel sand, despite which, the second respondent has now passed the impugned order directing the petitioner to submit his application through online portal would make him to undergo ordeal of process once again, which would not serve the purpose and his agricultural activities would come to an halt.
4. Today, when the matter is taken up for hearing, Mr.Stalin Abhimanyu, learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for respondents 1 to 5, on instructions, would submit that within a week from the date of submitting his online application, the request of the petitioner would be considered.
5. Heard the learned counsel on either side and also perused the materials placed before this Court.
6. Considering the fact that the Department of Geology and Mining had made it mandatory to submit online applications for transporting the minor minerals namely sand, gravel, clay, building stone etc., the petitioner is directed to submit his online application for transporting the sand gravel, forthwith. The respondents shall consider the application of the petitioner within a period of one week on his submitting the application in the online portal. The respondents __________Page 4 of 6
while considering the online application of the petitioner, shall take into consideration the earlier proceedings of the respondents dated 28.05.2025, permitting the petitioner to transport the sand gravel.
7. With the above directions, the writ petition is disposed of. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 19-01-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order DS To:
1. The Director (Mines and Minerals) Office of Director (Mines and Minerals) Collectorate Building, Coimbatore-18.
2. The Revenue Divisional Officer Pollachi Taluk, Coimbatore District.
3. The Tahsildar Anaimalai Taluk, Coimbatore District.
4. The Revenue Inspector Anaimalai Taluk, Coimbatore District.
5. The Village Administrative Officer Maarappagoundanpudhur Village Anaimalai Taluk, Coimbatore District.
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P.T.ASHA J.
DS 19-01-2026 __________Page 6 of 6