V.Austin v. The District Collector
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.11597 of 2020 and 3212 of 2021 V.Austin ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The District Collector, Collector Office, Madurai.
2.The Tahsildar, Madurai South, Madurai.
3.The Deputy Collector, Madurai District, Madurai.
4.The Commissioner of Police, Commissioner Office, Madurai.
5.The Superintendent of Police, Madurai District, Madurai.
6.The Commissioner, Madurai Corporation, Madurai.
7.The Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, WRO, Ground Water Division, Madurai.
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8.The Inspector of Police, Avaniyapuram Police Station, Madurai District.
9.The Inspector of Police, Perungudi Police Station, Madurai District.
10.Ramachandran Water, Ayanpappakudi, Perungudi, Madurai-625 022.
11.Nila Water, Ayanpappakudi, Perungudi, Madurai-625 022.
12.Saba Water, Ayanappakudi, Perungudi, Madurai-625 022.
13.Iswariya Water, Ayanpappakudi, Perungudi, Madurai-625 022.
14.Antony Water, Ayanpappakudi, Perungudi, Madurai-625 022.
15.Sun Water, Ayanpappakudi, Perungudi, Madurai-625 022.
16.Punitha Antony Water, Ayanpappakudi, Perungudi, Madurai-625 022.
17.Ravichandran Water, Ayanpappakudi, Perungudi, Madurai-625 022.
... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the 2/6
respondents 1 to 9 to take appropriate legal action against the respondents 10 to 17 for illegally extracting ground water in Survey Nos.375, 372, 378, 391, 394, 388 and 448 in Ayyanpappakudi, Perungudi, Madurai District and further direct the respondents 1 to 9 to register criminal case against the respondents 10 to 17 for their illegal actions and also seize the generators, lorries and other materials used for the illegal extraction of ground water from their lands and based on the representations made by the petitioner on 08.09.2020.
For Petitioner :
Mr.T.Arulhasan for Mr.J.Sathiaraj For RR1 to 3 & 7 :
Mr.P.Thilakkumar Government Pleader For RR4, 5, 8 & 9 :
Mr.T.Senthilkumar Additional Public Prosecutor For R6 :
Mr.S.Vinayak For R10 :
Ms.P.Jessi Jeeva Priya
O R D E R
[Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.] The writ on hand is filed to direct respondents 1 to 9 to take appropriate legal action against respondents 10 to 17 for illegally extracting ground water in Survey Nos.375, 372, 378, 391, 394, 388 and 448 in Ayyanpappakudi, Perungudi, Madurai District and further 3/6
direct respondents 1 to 9 to register criminal case against respondents 10 to 17 for their illegal actions and also seize the generators, lorries and other materials used for the illegal extraction of ground water from their lands.
2. Illegal extraction of ground water for commercial purpose has now been regulated by the Government. Thus, no further consideration is required in this Writ Petition and the same stands disposed of. It is needless to state that illegal extraction of ground water is an offence and thus, in the event of receiving any complaint or information, the competent authority has to conduct inspection and initiate further action to deal with such illegal operations. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
[S.M.S., J.] [A.D.M.C., J.] 23.07.2025 Index:Yes/No Internet:Yes/No NCC:Yes/No abr 4/6
To 1.The District Collector, Collector Office, Madurai.
2.The Tahsildar, Madurai South, Madurai.
3.The Deputy Collector, Madurai District, Madurai.
4.The Commissioner of Police, Commissioner Office, Madurai.
5.The Superintendent of Police, Madurai District, Madurai.
6.The Commissioner, Madurai Corporation, Madurai.
7.The Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, WRO, Ground Water Division, Madurai.
8.The Inspector of Police, Avaniyapuram Police Station, Madurai District.
9.The Inspector of Police, Perungudi Police Station, Madurai District.
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S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.
and DR.A.D.MARIA CLETE, J.
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