Prasad v. The District Geologist, Thrissur
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.VINOD CHANDRAN MONDAY, THE 20TH DAY OF JULY 2015/29TH ASHADHA, 1937 WP(C).No. 21741 of 2015 (P) ---------------------------------------- PETITIONER(S):
---------------------- PRASAD, AGED 45 YEARS, S/O.PADMNABHAN, MULLAKKAL HOUSE, KUNDANNUR P.O., CHITTANDA VILLAGE, THALAPPILLY TALUK, THRISSUR DISTRICT.
BY ADV. SRI.P.M.ZIRAJ RESPONDENT(S):
------------------------- 1.
THE DISTRICT GEOLOGIST, DEPARTMENT OF MINING AND GEOLOGY, THRISSUR DISTRICT-680001.
2.
THE DIRECTOR, MINING AND GEOLOGY, OFFICE OF THE MINING AND GEOLOGY, KESAVADASAPURAM, PATTAM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001.
3.
THE STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRIES DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.BIJU MEENATTOOR THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 20-07-2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
PJ
WP(C).No. 21741 OF 2015 (P) ---------------------------------------- APPENDIX PETITIONERS' EXHIBITS ----------------------------------- P1:
COPY OF THE BUILDING PERMIT DATED 17/4/15 ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY, ERUMAPETTY GRAMA PANCHAYATH TO THE PETITIONER P2:
COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE R1 DATED 18/5/15 P3:
COPY OF THE JUDGMENT OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT DATED 24/6/15 IN WPC.18466 FO 2015.
RESPONDENTS' EXHIBIT ----------------------------------- NIL.
/ TRUE COPY / P.S. TO JUDGE PJ
K. VINOD CHANDRAN, J - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - W.P(C) No. 21741 of 2015 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dated this the 20th day of July, 2015
J U D G M E N T
The case of the petitioner is that, on the strength of Ext.P2 building permit, the petitioner levelled the property by removing ordinary earth for construction of a residential building. But when the petitioner approached the 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
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building from the concerned Local Self Government 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
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transported and shall obtain mineral transit passes under the Kerala 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."
In the above facts and circumstances, 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"], without insisting for 'NOC'/Mining permit; however, the same shall be only on satisfaction of the genuineness of the claim of the petitioner based on the building permit issued by the Local Self Government Institution. It is made clear that the mining passes shall be issued only after the ordinary earth to be
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transported is stacked in the property which has to be physically inspected by the Geologist. The Geologist shall also issue as many number of passes as there are vehicles required for transporting the heaped quantity of ordinary earth after ensuring that the entire details required in form O(A) is filled up by the petitioner. The petitioner shall also be liable to surrender the passes after the period expires. It goes without saying that the destination to which the ordinary earth is to be taken has to be specified in the passes, before it is issued by the respondent. The above exercise shall be done immediately on the petitioner approaching the Geologist, at any rate, within a period of two weeks from the date of such application being filed.
Writ petition is disposed of.
Sd/- (K. VINOD CHANDRAN, JUDGE) jma //true copy// P.A to Judge