Varghese v. The District Geologist, Thrissur District
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.VINOD CHANDRAN WEDNESDAY, THE 3RD DAY OF JUNE 2015/13TH JYAISHTA, 1937 WP(C).No. 16538 of 2015 (N) ----------------------------------------- PETITIONER(S) :
------------------------- VARGHESE, AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.THOMAS, RESIDING AT CHALIL HOUSE, CHYVANNAMANNU P.O., THRISSUR DISTRICT, PIN CODE- 680 652. BY ADVS.SRI.AJITH THOMAS SRI.SURAJ.S RESPONDENT(S) :
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1. THE DISTRICT GEOLOGIST, DEPARTMENT OF MINING AND GEOLOGY, THRISSUR DISTRICT - 680 001.
2. THE SECRETARY, PANANCHERY GRAMA PANCHAYATH, THRISSUR DISTRICT, PIN CODE- 680 682.
R1 BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.BIJU MEENATTOOR THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 03-06-2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
Msd.
WP(C).No. 16538 of 2015 (N) ----------------------------------------- APPENDIX PETITIONER(S)' EXHIBITS ------------------------------------- P1:
A TRUE COPY OF THE TAX RECEIPT.
P2:
A TRUE COPY OF THE POSSESSION CERTIFICATE OF THE PROPORTY OF THE PETITIONER.
P3:
A TRUE COPY OF THE BUILDING PERMIT DATED 24/03/2015 ISSUED TO THE PETITIONER.
P4:
A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 25/03/2015 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT.
P5:
A TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 25/05/2015 IN W.P.(C).NO.13870 OF 2015 OF THIS HONOURABLE HIGH COURT. RESPONDENT(S)' EXHIBITS ----------------------------------------- NIL //TRUE COPY// P.A.TO JUDGE.
Msd.
K. VINOD CHANDRAN, J.
------------------------------------------ W.P.(C) No. 16538 of 2015 (N) ------------------------------------------ Dated this the 3rd day of June, 2015
J U D G M E N T
The case of the petitioner is that, on the strength of Ext.P3 building permit, the petitioner levelled the property by removing ordinary earth for construction of a residential building. But when the petitioner approached the 1st respondent/Geologist with a request for issuance of Mineral Transit pass to transport the earth from his property, it was refused to be acted upon.
2.
Heard the learned Government Pleader as well. 3.
By virtue of Rule 14 of the Kerala Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2015 the persons doing construction of residential building including flats or commercial buildings having a plinth area upto 300 square metres are exempted from obtaining quarrying permit under the Rules, if the owner of the land has obtained a prior valid permit for construction of such building from the concerned Local Self
-2Government authority. The said Rule reads as follows: "14. Quarrying permit for Ordinary earth:
(1) A quarrying permit under these rules shall be obtained for extraction of ordinary earth used for filling or levelling purposes in construction of embankments, roads, railways or buildings in Form N:
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1), no quarrying permit is required under these rules for extraction of ordinary earth in connection with the construction of residential buildings including flats or commercial buildings having a plinth area of 300 square metres if the owner of the land obtained a prior valid permit for construction of such building from the Local Self Government authorities concerned;
Provided that in cases where transportation of ordinary earth is required, the owner shall pay royalty for the quantity to be transported and shall obtain mineral transit passes under the
-3Kerala State Minerals (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Storage and Transportation) Rules, 2015 from the competent authority;
Provided further that the competent authority shall not issue mineral transit passes for removal of ordinary earth exceeding the quantity needed to be extracted as ascertained by it through a site inspection."
4.
In the above facts and circumstances. The 1st respondent/District Geologist is directed to issue 'Mineral Transit Pass' in Form O(A) of the Kerala Minerals (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Storage and Transportation) Rules, 2015 (for brevity "Prevention Act"], on being satisfied with the genuineness of the claim of the petitioner based on Exhibit P3 building permit, without insisting for 'NOC'/Mining permit; in accordance with law, if necessary after physical inspection of the site, which shall be done at the earliest at any rate within two weeks from the date of
-4receipt of a copy of this judgment. The petitioner shall produce a copy of this judgment along with a copy of the writ petition before the 1st respondent/District Geologist for further steps.
The writ petition is disposed of.
Sd/- K.VINOD CHANDRAN, JUDGE jjj