K.Rajkumar, v. The District Collector,
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 07.07.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE A.D.MARIA CLETE and W.M.P.(MD) Nos.4930, 10437 and 13054 of 2019 K.Rajkumar ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The District Collector, Ramanathapuram District, Ramanathapuram.
2.The Sub-Collector, Paramakudi, 3.The Tahsildar, Kadaladi Taluk, 4.P.Subramanian 5.Murugan 6.V.Mariappan 7.Muthusamy 8.Ramasamy 9.M.Kasilingam 10.Kanagavel Nadar 11.Rajaperumal 12.Palavesam 1/6
13.Suvananaintha Perumal 14.Muthuvel 15.Narayanan 16.Vallatharasu 17.Thangadurai 18.Piravai Nathan 19.Sakkarai 20.Mariappan 21.Salomon 22.Mathi 23.Sri Ram Colour Company, Kannirajapuram, Kadaladi Taluk, 24.Kavara Kulathar 25.Ramkumar 26.Velu 27.The Chief Engineer, Water Resources Organization (Ground Water), Public Works Department, Chennai.
28.The Sayalkudi Town Panchayat, Rep., by its Executive Officer, Sayalkudi, Kadaladi Taluk, 29.A.Sivagnana Pandiyan 30.K.Mohamed Jinna 31.The Block Development Officer, Kadaladi Panchayat Union, ... Respondents [R27 is suo motu impleaded vide Court order dated 19.03.2019] [R28 is suo motu impleaded vide Court order dated 01.07.2019 in W.P.(MD) No.6162 of 2019] 2/6
[RR29 & 30 are impleaded vide Court order dated 01.07.2019 in W.M.P.(MD) No.10282 of 2019 in W.P.(MD) No.6162 of 2019] [R31 is suo motu impleaded vide Court order dated 17.07.2019 in W.P.(MD) No.6162 of 2019] PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, to direct respondents 1 to 3 to take appropriate action against respondents 4 to 26 to prevent them from fetching water from the newly dug 58 wells situated at Kannirajapuram Village, Pilaiporuthamman Kudiyiruppu, Balammal Kudiyiruppu, Vettukadu, Ammapuram, Dhiraviapuram, Narippaiyur, Kadaladi Taluk, Ramanathapuram District and to close the same for the interest of public at large. For Petitioner :
Mr.T.Lenin Kumar For RR 1 to 3, 27, 28, 31 :
Mr.P.Thilakkumar Government Pleader For RR6, 8, 9, 11 to 13, 17, 18 & 25 :
Mr.R.Murugappan For RR7, 14 to 16, 20, 29 & 30: Mr.A.Rajaram
O R D E R
[Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.] The writ on hand has been instituted to direct respondents 1 to 3 to take appropriate action against respondents 4 to 26 to prevent 3/6
them from fetching water from the newly dug 58 wells situated at Kannirajapuram Village, Pilaiporuthamman Kudiyiruppu, Balammal Kudiyiruppu, Vettukadu, Ammapuram, Dhiraviapuram, Narippaiyur, Kadaladi Taluk, Ramanathapuram District and to close the same for the interest of public at large.
2. The complaint submitted by the petitioner reveals that the private respondents are illegally extracting ground water for commercial purposes.
3. The Government has issued orders in G.O.(Ms) No.15, Water Resources (R1) Department, dated 28.03.2023 and also guidelines for extraction of ground water for commercial purposes. Licence is to be obtained and extraction of water is now being regulated.
4. Illegal extraction of water for commercial purpose is an offence punishable and therefore, the officials respondents are directed to conduct inspection and initiate all appropriate actions, if ground water extraction for commercial purpose is identified. The guidelines issued by the Government are to be scrupulously followed. 4/6
5. With the above direction, this Writ Petition stands 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.] 07.07.2025 Index:Yes Internet:Yes/No NCC:Yes/No abr To 1.The District Collector, Ramanathapuram District, Ramanathapuram.
2.The Sub-Collector, Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram District.
3.The Tahsildar, Kadaladi Taluk, Ramanathapuram District.
4.The Chief Engineer, Water Resources Organization (Ground Water), Public Works Department, Chennai.
5.The Executive Officer, Sayalkudi Town Panchayat, Sayalkudi, Kadaladi Taluk, 6.The Block Development Officer, 5/6
Kadaladi Panchayat Union, Ramanathapuram District. S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.
and DR.A.D.MARIA CLETE, J.
abr 07.07.2025 6/6