Pasumai Suttru Suzhal Pathukappu Sangam, v. The Commissioner,

ORDER [Order of the Court was made by G.Arul Murugan J.] The writ petition, styled as a Public Interest Litigation, is filed seeking to take action against the illegal mining activities across several SF numbers in Kancheepuram District and certain SF numbers in Cheyyur Taluk of Chengalpattu District.

¶2The learned counsel appearing for the appellant submitted that in Page4 of 9 view of the illegal mining activities being carried on, the agricultural lands of the villagers are greatly affected and these illegal activities are to be curbed.

¶3Responding to the allegations made in the petition, a detailed status report has been filed by the District Collector, Kancheepuram, as well as the Assistant Director, Department of Geology and Mining, Chengalpattu District. In the status report filed by the District Collector, Kancheepuram, it is stated that leases have been granted to six lessees under Rule 12(2)(a) of the Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1959. All the leases granted are in respect of excavating the ground earth soil, which includes materials for the road work carrying out by the Highways Department. Paragraph 6 of the status report, which lists the details of the lessees in whose favour the leases have been granted, is extracted hereunder: "6. It is respectfully submitted that the details of the Ordinary Earth Quarries referred to in the present writ petition, insofar as they related to Kancheepuram District are furnished hereunder: S.No. Name

of

the Lessee S.F.No., Village

& Taluk Lease Period Permission Granted Rule I Thiru

(P) 06.02.2026 Rule 12(2)(a) Page5 of 9 S.R.Sivakumar Irumbedu Sriperumbu dur to

06.04.2026 II Thiru S.R.Sivakumar 407/1 (P) Kottu Sriperumbu dur

13.03.2026 to

11.05.2026 Rule 12(2)(a) III Thiru C.Ramki 250/2 (P) Vichur Uthiramerur

11.03.2026 to

29.04.2026 Rule 12(2)(a) IV Thiru B.Anbazhagan 1(P) Nattarasanp attu Kundrathur

11.03.2026 to

29.04.2026 Rule 12(2)(a) V Thiru S.Sankar 390 (P) Pinaiyur Uthiramerur

11.03.2026 to

24.04.2026 Rule 12(2)(a)"

¶4A further status report of the Assistant Director, Department of Geology and Mining, Chengalpattu District, also listed out the leases granted in favour of the six persons under Rule 12(2)(a) and some of the leases under Rule 7 of the Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1959. Paragraph 6 of this status report, listing the details of the lease granted to the six lessees, is extracted hereunder: "6. It is respectfully submitted that the details of the Ordinary Earth Quarries referred to in the present writ petition, insofar as they relate to Chengalpattu District, are furnished hereunder: S.No. Name of the Lessee S.F.No., Village & Taluk Lease Period Permission Granted Rule I Thiru

(P), 11.03.2026 Rule 12(2)(a) Page6 of 9 N.Rajasekaran Manapakkam Thirukazhukun dran to

29.04.2026 II Thiru P.Murugesan 201/1 (P), Arunkundram Thirupporur

14.02.2026 to

30.03.2026 Rule 12(2)(a) III Thiru R.Mariyappan 204 (P) Mullipakkam, Thirupporur

12.03.2026 to

10.05.2026 Rule 12(2)(a) IV M/s.

SPL Infrastructure (P) Limited 257 (P), Nallmur Madhura Keezhkarani, Madhuranthag am

13.01.2026 to

12.07.2026 Rule 7 V M/s. SPL Infrastructure (P) Limited 132 (P), Sirunagar, Cheyyur

11.02.2026 to

10.08.2026 Rule 7 VI M/s. JSRIDPL – ARIPL (JV), M/s. JSR

Infra Developer Private Limited 106 (P), Madaiyampakk am, Cheyyur

06.02.2026 to

05.08.2026 Rule 7"

¶5From the reports, it is seen that while there are almost 11 lessees in whose favour leases have been granted across the two districts, the present Public Interest Litigation has been filed arraying only three private respondents 10 to 12 and making bald allegations that illegal mining is being carried on.

¶6The learned Government Pleader appearing for the respondents further submitted that the authorities conducted an inspection and found Page7 of 9 that by six lessees, mining is carried on in consonance with the lease granted. Only in one case it was found that a lessee had mined beyond the permitted area and due action is being contemplated against the lessee.

¶7In view of the status report filed, and the submissions made following the inspection, it is evident that this is not a case of illegal mining. Instead, the mining is being conducted in consonance with the leases granted under the Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1959.

¶8In such view of the matter, finding that the allegations made in the writ petition are factually incorrect and mining is carried on as per the lease granted there is no merit in the writ petition and accordingly dismissed. No costs. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed. (SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, C.J.) (G.ARUL MURUGAN J.) 22-07-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Jeni/gya Page8 of 9 To

1.The Commissioner, Department of Geology and Mining, Alandur Road, Guindy Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.

2.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Collectorate, Kancheepuram.

3.The District Superintendent of Police, Office of the District Superintendent of Police, Kancheepuram.

4.The Assistant Director, Department of Geology and Mining, Collectorate, Kancheepuram.

5.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Collectorate, Chengalpattu.

6.The District Superintendent of Police, Office of the District Superintendent of Police, Chengalpattu.

7.The Assistant Director, Department of Geology and Mining, Collectorate, Chengalpattu.

8.The Revenue Divisional Officer, O/o the Revenue Divisional Officer, Kancheepuram Revenue Division, Kancheepuram.

9.The Revenue Divisional Officer, O/o the Revenue Divisional Officer, Chengalpattu Revenue Division, Chengalpattu. WP,No.,16548,of,2026 THE,HON'BLE,CHIEF,JUSTICE. AND G.ARUL,MURUGAN,,J. Jeni/gya WP,No.,16548,of,2026 22-07-2026 Page9,of,9

Page1 of 9 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 22-07-2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR. SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN W.P.No.16548 of 2026 and W.M.P.Nos.17749, 17750 and 17754 of 2026 Pasumai Suttru Suzhal Pathukappu Sangam, Rep. by its Deputy Secretary, S. Srinivasan, 9, R.S. Complex, First Floor, No.1 Tollgate, Pichandar Koil, Mannachanallur Taluk, Tiruchirappalli District. ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The Commissioner, Department of Geology and Mining, Alandur Road, Guindy Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032. 2. The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Collectorate, Kancheepuram. 3. The District Superintendent of Police, Office of the District Superintendent of Police, Kancheepuram. 4. The Assistant Director, Department of Geology and Mining, Collectorate, Kancheepuram. 5. The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Page2 of 9 Collectorate, Chengalpattu. 6. The District Superintendent of Police, Office of the District Superintendent of Police, Chengalpattu. 7. The Assistant Director, Department of Geology and Mining, Collectorate, Chengalpattu. 8. The Revenue Divisional Officer, O/o the Revenue Divisional Officer, Kancheepuram Revenue Division, Kancheepuram. 9. The Revenue Divisional Officer, O/o the Revenue Divisional Officer, Chengalpattu Revenue Division, Chengalpattu. 10. Mr.Rajasekharan, No.261/1(P) Manappakkam Village, Thirukazhukundram Taluk, Kancheepuram District. 11. Mr.P.Murugesan, No.201/1(P) Arungundram Village, Thiruporur Taluk, Chengalpattu District. 12. Mr.Mariappan, No.204, Mullipakkam Village, Thiruporur Taluk, Chengalpattu District. ..Respondent(s) PRAYER: Writ Petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a writ of Mandamus, directing the 1st respondent to take legal action against the illegal mining activities comprised in S.F.No.250 of Vichsur Village, S.F.No.390 of Pinaiyr Village of Uthiramerur Taluk, S.F.No.1 of Nattarasanpettai, Kundrathur Taluk, Page3 of 9 S.F.No.1 of Erumbedu Village, S.F.No.407/1, Kottur, Sriperumbudur Taluk of Kancheepuram District and S.F.No.261/1(P) of Manapakkam Village Thirukazhungundram Taluk, S.F.No.201/1, Arungundram Village, S.F.No.204 of Mullipakkam Village Thiruporur Taluk, S.F.No.257, Nallamur Village, Mathuranthagam Taluk, S.F.No.132, Sirunagar Village, S.F.No.103 or 106, Madayampakkam Village, Cheyyur Taluk of Chengalpattu District based on the petitioners complaint dated 30.03.2026. For Petitioner(s): Mr.M.Aravind Subramaniam Senior Counsel For Mr.S.Gopinath For Respondent(s): Mr.K.Kumaran Government Pleader For R1, R2, R4, R5, R7, R8 & R9 Mr.M.Dinesh Government Advocate (Criminal Side) For R3 & R6.