P.Kumar v. The District Collector

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 30.10.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI P.Kumar ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The District Collector, Kanyakumari District, At Nagercoil.

2.The Assistant Director of Mines and Minerals, Collectorate, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District.

3.The District Environmental Engineer, Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District.

4.The Tahsildar, Vilavacode Taluk, Kanyakumari District.

5.Vijayakumar ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 1/6

respondents 1 to 4 to take appropriate action based upon the petitioner's representation dated 12.07.2025 against the 5th respondent herein who is running a brick kiln Industry in S.No.239/9, Nedumpurappu, Aarudesam Village, Killiyoor Taluk, Kanyakumari District and further encroaching the water body namely Parali River and also illegally transporting sand and alluvial soil from the river bed.

For Petitioner : Mr.D.Saravanan For Respondents : Mr.S.Vinodh, Govt. Advocate for for R1, R2 & R4.

ORDER

Heard the learned counsel for the writ petitioner and the learned Government Advocate for the official respondents. 2.The petitioner is a resident of Mancode Village in Kanyakumari District. He alleges that the fifth respondent who is running a brick kiln industry in S.No.239/9 is illegally quarrying river sand. 2/6

3.The petitioner has given a representation dated 12.07.2025 in this regard. Since we are disposing of the writ petition without putting the fifth respondent on notice, we will not be justified in giving any adverse finding. However, our attention is drawn to the proceedings dated 12.06.2017 issued by the Revenue Divisional Officer, Padmanabhapuram. It is seen therefrom that the fifth respondent has been penalized to the tune of Rs.2,90,068/- for having transported mineral without proper permission.

4.Therefore, the allegations made by the writ petitioner cannot casually brushed aside. We also notice that the fifth respondent had been earlier running a brick kiln unit in S.No.239/9. In these circumstances, we deem it fit and appropriate to direct the first respondent being the head of the District Level Task Force to prevent illegal quarrying, to ensure that there is no illegal quarrying operating in Parali River through the Taluk Level Task Force.

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5.This writ petition is disposed of accordingly. No costs. (G.R.S.J.,) & (B.P.J.,) 30.10.2025 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No ias To:- 1.The District Collector, Kanyakumari District, At Nagercoil.

2.The Assistant Director of Mines and Minerals, Collectorate, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District.

3.The Tahsildar, Vilavacode Taluk, Kanyakumari District.

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G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.

and B.PUGALENDHI, J.

ias 30.10.2025 6/6