Seetha v. The Director
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 18.07.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE A.D.MARIA CLETE and W.M.P.(MD)Nos.6968, 6969 and 7526 of 2020 W.P.(MD)No.7496 of 2020 Seetha ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The Director, Geology and Mining Department, Guindy, Chennai-600 032.
2.The District Collector, Sivagangai Collector Office, Sivagangai-630562.
3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, R.D.O.Office, Sivagangai-630561.
4.The Tahsildar, Thiruppuvanam Taluk, Sivagangai District-630 611.
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5.The Assistant Director, Geology and Mining, Sivagangai District-630562.
6.The Executive Engineer, Sarukani Basin Division, Public Works Department, Sivagangai District-630 562.
7.The Superintendent of Police, Superintendent Police Office, Sivagangai District-630562.
8.The Inspector of Police, Thiruppachethi Police Station, Sivagangai District-630610.
9.Satheeshkumar 10.Chinnaiya 11.Krishnamoorthy 12.The Principal Secretary, Industries Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.
13.The Secretary, Revenue Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.
...Respondents
R12 & R13 suo motu impleaded vide Court order dated 15.07.2020) PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 8 to prohibit the respondents 9 to 11 from excavating sand in Vaigai River near Kanoor Village, Crematorium of Kanoor, Survey Nos.95/3, 95/16, 95/18, 95/11A and adjacent lands in Kanoor 2/7
Group, Thiruppuvanam Taluk, Sivagangai based on the petitioner's representation on 12.06.2020 and consequently, to direct the respondents 1 to 8 to make enquiry for appropriate legal action against the respondents 9 to 11 for the illegal sand quarrying operation within a stipulated time that may be fixed by this Court. For Petitioner : No Appearance For R1 to R6 : Mr.M.Sarangan, R12 & R13 Additional Government Pleader For R7 & R8 : Mr.T.Senthil Kumar, Additional Public Prosecutor For R9, R10 & R11 : No Appearance W.P.(MD)No.8106 of 2020 V.Sundararaj ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The Chief Secretary, Secretariat, St.George Fort, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
2.The District Collector, Sivagangai District, Collector Office Campus, Sivagangai.
3.The Superintendent of Police, Sivagangai District, Sivagangai.
...Respondents
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PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to prohibit the illegal excavation of sand in Vaigai River, Banparu, Kottakudi River, Thenaru, Manimutharu, Sarugani River Upparu and Upparu Gundaru Basin and adjacent lands in Thiruppuvanam Taluk, Sivagangai based on the petitioner's representation on 11.07.2020 and consequently, to direct the respondents 2 and 3 to make enquiry for appropriate legal action against illegal sand mining operation within a stipulated time that may be fixed by this Court.
For Petitioner : Mr.G.B.Kaveri Mani, for Mr.C.M.Arumugam For R1 & R2 : Mr.M.Sarangan, Additional Government Pleader For R3 : Mr.T.Senthil Kumar, Additional Public Prosecutor COMMON ORDER (Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.) With reference to the relief sought for in the present Writ Petitions, the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the official respondents would submit that river sand quarrying operations have been stopped by the Government. In the event of any illegal sand quarrying, the authorities competent 4/7
are bound to initiate appropriate actions, including criminal prosecution against the offenders.
2.With the above observations, these Writ Petitions are disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. (S.M.S., J.) & (A.D.M.C., J.) 18.07.2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Yuva To 1.The Director, Geology and Mining Department, Guindy, Chennai-600 032.
2.The District Collector, Sivagangai Collector Office, Sivagangai-630562.
3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, R.D.O.Office, Sivagangai-630561.
4.The Tahsildar, Thiruppuvanam Taluk, Sivagangai District-630 611.
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5.The Assistant Director, Geology and Mining, Sivagangai District-630562.
6.The Executive Engineer, Sarukani Basin Division, Public Works Department, Sivagangai District-630 562.
7.The Superintendent of Police, Superintendent Police Office, Sivagangai District-630562.
8.The Inspector of Police, Thiruppachethi Police Station, Sivagangai District-630610.
9.The Principal Secretary, Industries Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.
10.The Secretary, Revenue Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.
11.The Chief Secretary, Secretariat, St.George Fort, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
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S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.
AND DR.A.D.MARIA CLETE, J.
Yuva 18.07.2025 7/7