Christopher.S v. The Director

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 11.12.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI W.P(MD)No.3258 of 2024 and W.M.P.(MD)No.3481 of 2024 S.Christopher ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Director, Mines and Minerals Department Office.

2.The District Collector, 3.The Assistant Director, Mines and Geology Department, 4.The Superintendent of Police, District Police Superintendent Office, 5.The Tahsildar, Thasildar Office, Palayamkottai, 1/6

6.The Inspector of Police, Police Station, Seevalaperi, 7.M.Anthony 8.Muthukrishnan 9.P.Mani 10.M.Esakkimuthu ... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorari, to direct the respondents 1 to 6 to take appropriate action against the respondents 7 to 10 for illegal mining sand as well as running brick kilns in S.Nos. 13,14,17/2,44/2,48/2,49/2 in Kansapuram Village, Palayamkottai Taluk, Tirunelveli District and also forbearing the Respondents 7 to 10 from running Brick Kilns in S.No. 15/1A, 16/1A and 42 located in Keelapattam Village, Palayamkottai Taluk, Tirunelveli District upon considering the petitioner's representation dated 22.11.2023 within the time stipulated by this Court.

For Petitioner :Mr.Aayiram K.Selvakumar For Respondents :Mr.C.Venkatesh Kumar Special Government Pleader for R1 to R3 & R5 : Mr.Gnana Sekaran Government Advocate for R4 & R6 2/6

:Mr.Marimuthu for R7 to R10

ORDER

Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Special Government Pleader for the official respondents.

2. The petitioner is a resident of Sathankulam, Thoothukudi District. He alleges that illegal sand mining is taking place in the petition mentioned survey number. According to him, illegal mining takes place in order to enable the running of certain illegal brick kiln unit. This writ petition was filed way back in January 2024. We are now in December 2025.

3. The learned Special Government Pleader on instructions from the Thasildar, Palayamkottai submits that all the illegally running brick kiln unit shall be shut down. It is further stated that as on date, illicit mining has been totally stopped. It is further stated that the Tahsildar, Palayamkottai has submitted the recommendatory proposal to the RDO, Tirunelveli for levying penalty on the offenders.

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4. We direct the RDO, Tirunelveli to take consequential action based on the proposal submitted by the Tahsildar, Palayamkottai.

5. Recording the submission of the learned Special Government Pleader, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

[G.R.S., J.] [B.P., J.] 11.12.2025 NCC : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No Index : Yes / No rmi To 1.The Director, Mines and Minerals Department Office.

2.The District Collector, 3.The Assistant Director, Mines and Geology Department, 4.The Superintendent of Police, District Police Superintendent Office, 4/6

5.The Tahsildar, Thasildar Office, Palayamkottai, 6.The Inspector of Police, Police Station, Seevalaperi, 5/6

G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J and B.PUGALENDHI, J.

rmi W.P(MD)No.3528 of 2024 11.12.2025 6/6