Liyakath Ali v. The District Collector
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated: 27.03.2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY and W.M.P(MD)No.6801 of 2026 Liyakath Ali ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The District Collector, District Collectorate Office, 2.The District Revenue Officer, District Collector Office Thanjavur District-613 001 3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Kumbakonam 4.The Superintendent of Police, The District Police Office, Thanjavur, 5.The District Fire and Rescue Officer, Fire and Rescue Services, Room No.309, 3rd Floor, New Collectorate Building Thanajvur-613 010
6.The Joint Chief Controller of Explosives, Shastri Bhavan, 2nd Floor, A&D Wing Block 1-8 No.26, Haddows Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 006 7.The Chief Controller of Explosives, PESO (Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation) CGO Complex, 5th A Block Seminary Hills, Nagpur, Maharashtra-440 001 8.The Block Development Officer, Block Development Office, Kumbakonam, 9.The Reliance BP Mobility Limited, Represented by its Senior Regional Manager, 6th Floor, 89 Dr.Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore, Chennai-600 004 10.Devi
...Respondents
Writ Petitions are filed under article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, forbearing the respondents No.1 to 8 from granting permission, licence or No objection Certificate for establishing a petroleum retail outlet in Survey Nos.399/5B, 399/6A and 399/6B situated at Babarajapuram, Thimakudi Revenue Village, Kumbakonam Taluk, Thanjavur District, which is situated in a residential locality and in violation of the Central Pollution Control Board Guidelines dated 07.01.2020 prescribing minimum safety distance norms, and consequently restrain the 9th respondent from establishing the said petroleum retail outlet in the said location.
For Petitioner :Mr.R.Karunanidhi For R1to R3,R5 :Mr.M.Lingadurai, Special Government Pleader For R8 :Mr.D.Sadiqraja Additional Government Pleader For R4 :Mr.K.Gnanasekaran Government Advocate(Crl.side) For R6 & R7 :Mr.P.Subbiah
ORDER
This writ petition is disposed of on the admission stage itself, without notice to the private respondents 9 and 10. This Court is not expressed any opinion with reference to the facts mentioned or the allegations made by the petitioner.
2.The prayer in the writ petition is to forebear the respondent Nos.1 to 8 from granting permission or license or No Objection Certificate for establishing a petroleum retail outlet in survey Nos.399/5B, 399/6A and 399/6B situated at Babarajapuram, Thimakudi Revenue Village, Kumbakonam taluk, Thanjavur District.
3.According to the petitioner, the site will not be suitable as per the Central Pollution Control Board guidelines, therefore, the petitioner has also made a representation and objections in this regard, but however, the respondents are proceeding further in considering the case.
4.When the matter came up for admission, the learned Special Government Pleader taking notice on behalf of the authorities would submit that for now only NOC of the District Fire and Rescue Services Officer alone is received and the District Revenue officer is considering the issue. The NOC is yet to be received from the other authorities, only there upon the final decision will be taken by the District Revenue Officer. 5.In view thereof, this writ petition is ordered on the following terms: (i)Let the petitioner shall also be heard by the 2nd respondent, while considering the application made with reference to the retail outlet in survey Nos.399/5B, 399/6A and 399/6B, Thimakudi Baburajapuram Village, Kumbakonam taluk, Thanjavur district and speaking order shall be passed on the objection submitted by the petitioner. (ii)Needless to mention that the authority has to take a decision only by conducting an inquiry involving the respondent 9 and 10 as well as the petitioner. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
27.03.2026 NCC:Yes/No Ns
To 1.The District Collector, District Collectorate Office, 2.The District Revenue Officer, District Collector Office Thanjavur District-613 001 3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Kumbakonam 4.The Superintendent of Police, The District Police Office, Thanjavur, 5.The District Fire and Rescue Officer, Fire and Rescue Services, Room No.309, 3rd Floor, New Collectorate Building Thanajvur-613 010 6.The Block Development Officer, Block Development Office, Kumbakonam,
D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY, J.
Ns and W.M.P(MD)No.6801 of 2026 27.03.2026