Samidurai v. The Government Of Tamilnadu

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 28.07.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM and THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE A.D.MARIA CLETE and W.M.P(MD)Nos.6759 & 6760 of 2025 Samidurai ... Petitioner vs.

1.The Government of Tamil Nadu, Represented by the Chief Secretary to Government, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

2.The Commissioner, Department of Geology and Mining, Guindy, Chennai - 32.

3.The Assistant Director, Department of Geology and Mining, 4.The District Collector, 1/6

5.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Kumbakonam, 6.The Tahsildar, Papanasam Taluk, 7.Udhayakumar ... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records in Permission vide Na.Ka.No.17/Kanimam/2024 dated 12.07.2024 granted by the third respondent in favour of 7th respondent and quash the same for the life safety of villagers in the the bank of Kollidam river and for nature protection being in river bank.

For Petitioner : Mr.E.Marees Kumar For RR 1 to 6 : Mr.P.Thilak Kumar Government Pleader For R - 7 : Mr.R.Gowrishankar 2/6

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.) The writ on hand has been instituted to quash the order dated 12.07.2024 by the third respondent in favour of the 7th respondent and for the safety of the villagers living in the bank of the Kollidam river as well as for the protection of the riverbank environment. 2.The license period as per the order dated 12.07.2024 has expired. Therefore, the authorities are bound to monitor activities in the subject place. In the event of any illegal river sand mining operation or any other illegal activities, the offenders are to be prosecuted in the manner known to law.

3.In the event of any proposal for renewal or granting of a further license, the procedures as contemplated are to be followed scrupulously and in a transparent manner, enabling the people of that locality to raise their objections for grant of license as far as the mining operations 3/6

are concerned.

4.With these observations, this Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.

[S.M.S.,J.] & [A.D.M.C.,J.] 28.07.2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes ps 4/6

To 1.The Chief Secretary to Government, Represented by the Government of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

2.The Commissioner, Department of Geology and Mining, Guindy, Chennai - 32.

3.The Assistant Director, Department of Geology and Mining, 4.The District Collector, 5.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Kumbakonam, 6.The Tahsildar, Papanasam Taluk, 5/6

S.M.SUBRAMANIAM , J.

and DR.A.D.MARIA CLETE , J.

ps ORDER MADE IN DATED : 28.07.2025 6/6