Mahalingam v. The Secretary To Government

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 23.07.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE A.D.MARIA CLETE and W.M.P.(MD)Nos.8583 of 2020 & 4065 of 2022 Mahalingam ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Secretary to Government, Public Works Department, Secretariat, Chennai.

2.The District Collector, Pudukkottai District, Pudukkottai.

3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Aranthangi, Pudukkottai District.

4.The Assistant Director of Geology and Mining, Pudukkottai District, Pudukkottai.

5.The Tahsildar, Aranthangi Taluk, 1/5

6.The Block Development Officer, (Village Panchayat), Aranthangi,

...Respondents

PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents from permitting anyone to take sand in Vellaru and in other rivers situated in Pudukkottai District under the guise of implementing PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Scheme) and Green House Scheme by considering the petitioner's representation dated 06.08.2020. For Petitioner : Mr.T.Lenin Kumar For Respondents : Mr.P.Thilak Kumar, Government Pleader

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.) With reference to the relief sought for in the present Writ Petition, the 2nd respondent filed status report, stating that permission granted had been withdrawn vide letter dated 07.08.2020. Paragraph No.4 of the status report reads as under:- "4.It is respectfully submit that according to the above said instructions, considering the fact that the scheme beneficiaries are poorest of the poor and to complete the houses, the permission has been given to the Block Development Officer vide letter 2/5

No.G/3005/2017, dated 24.06.2020, for taking sand by obtaining applications from the scheme beneficiaries at free of cost. Subsequently, the order has been withdrawn vide letter ROC.No.G/3005/2017, dated 07.08.2020 due to administrative reasons."

2.In view of the above fact, no further adjudication needs to be undertaken in this matter. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. (S.M.S., J.) & (A.D.M.C., J.) 23.07.2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Yuva To 1.The Secretary to Government, Public Works Department, Secretariat, Chennai.

2.The District Collector, Pudukkottai District, Pudukkottai.

3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Aranthangi, Pudukkottai District.

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4.The Assistant Director of Geology and Mining, Pudukkottai District, Pudukkottai.

5.The Tahsildar, Aranthangi Taluk, 6.The Block Development Officer, (Village Panchayat), Aranthangi, 4/5

S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.

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

Yuva 23.07.2025 5/5