M.Rajendran, S/O.Maniyakkarar v. The Principal Secretary
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 26.06.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM and THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE A.D.MARIA CLETE and W.M.P(MD)No.4009 of 2019 M.Rajendran ... Petitioner vs.
1.The Principal Secretary, Public Works Department, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, Subramaniyapuram, Trichy - 620 020.
3.The District Collector, Collectorate, Trichy.
4.The Project Director, Sand Quarry Operation, PWD/WRD Campus, Subramaniyapuram, Trichy - 620 020.
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5.The Executive Engineer, PWD.R.C Division, Cantonment, Trichy - 1.
6.The Executive Engineer, PWD/WRD, Mining and Monitoring Division, Thanjavur.
... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to trade the river sand, after measuring the sand with a standard measure (device) duly certified and stamped by the authority competent under the Legal Metrology Act and after fixing the sand price based on that standard measure and consequently struck down G.O.(Ms)No.178, Public Works Department dated 31.05.2008. For Petitioner : No appearance For Respondents : Mr.P.Thilak Kumar Government Pleader
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.) The writ on hand has been instituted to direct the respondents to trade river sand only after measuring it with a standard device duly certified and 2/5
stamped by the competent authority under the Legal Metrology Act. The petitioner also seeks to fix the price of sand based on that standard measure and consequently to strike down G.O.(Ms)No.178, Public Works Department, dated 31.05.2008.
2.The learned Government Pleader appearing for the respondents would submit that as of now, river sand quarrying is not permitted and has been stopped. Therefore, the relief sought for in the Writ Petition has lost its relevance. 3.Accordingly, this Writ Petition stands closed. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. [S.M.S.,J.] & [A.D.M.C.,J.] 26.06.2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes ps 3/5
To 1.The Principal Secretary, Public Works Department, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, Subramaniyapuram, Trichy - 620 020.
3.The District Collector, Collectorate, Trichy.
4.The Project Director, Sand Quarry Operation, PWD/WRD Campus, Subramaniyapuram, Trichy - 620 020.
5.The Executive Engineer, PWD.R.C Division, Cantonment, Trichy - 1.
6.The Executive Engineer, PWD/WRD, Mining and Monitoring Division, Thanjavur.
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S.M.SUBRAMANIAM , J.
and DR.A.D.MARIA CLETE , J.
ps ORDER MADE IN DATED : 26.06.2025 5/5