Saravanakumar v. The Additional Chief Secretary

ORDER Vide G.O.(3D) No.21, Natural Resources Department, dated

17.09.2025, the Government had granted quarry permission in favour of the 6th respondent herein. The said G.O is put to challenge by the writ petitioner who is a resident of Kotta Natham village.

¶2The writ petition has been filed primarily on the premise that the distance rule set out in Rule 36 of the Tamil Nadu Mines and Minerals Concession Rules, 1959 has been breached. According to the petitioner's counsel, the quarry site is located within 22 meters from a water body.

¶3The learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the authorities as well as the learned counsel appearing for the 6th respondent point out that the aforesaid Rule is not applicable to the quarry lease concerning colored granites. Rule 36 is applicable only to stone quarries. The expression "stone" has been defined as follows:- "'stone' shall mean rough stones including khandas, boulders, size-reduced (broken or crushed) materials including metal jelly,ballasts, mill stones, hand chakais and building and road construction stones other than black, red, pink, grey, green, whiteor other coloured or multi coloured granites or any other rocks suitable for use as ornamental and decorative stones."

¶4We are satisfied that the foundational premise on which the writ petition rests does not hold good. The counter affidavit filed by the 5th respondent indicates that although the inhabited locality is within 300 meters of the quarry site, no blasting of rocks is involved or required. It is further stated that the multi colored granite blocks are extracted by the wire saw method which is a precision cutting technique. There is no need to use explosives. We direct the 6th respondent to strictly abide by the conditions imposed in the impugned GO. There is no scope for interference. The Writ Petition is dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

[G.R.S., J.] [B.P., J.]

22.04.2026 NCC : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No Index : Yes / No rmi To

1.The Additional Chief Secretary, The Natual Resources (MMB.2) Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.

2.The Commissioner, Geology and Mining, Guindy, Chennai-600 032.

3.The District Collector, District Collector Office, Dindigul, Didigul Distrit-624 004.

4.The Deputy Director, Geology and Mining District Collector Office Campus, Dindigul District-624 004. G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J and

B.PUGALENDHI, J. rmi W.P(MD)No.7369 of 2026

22.04.2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 22.04.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI W.P(MD)No.7369 of 2026 & W.M.P.(MD)Nos.6043, 6044 & 6045 of 2026 Saravanakumar ... Petitioner Vs. 1.The Additional Chief Secretary, The Natual Resources (MMB.2) Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009. 2.The Chairman, Tamil Nadu State Level Environment Impac Assessment Authority (SEIAA-TN) Third Floor Panagal Maaligai, No.1, Jeenis Road, Saidapet, Chennai-600 015. 3.The Commissioner, Geology and Mining, Guindy, Chennai-600 032. 4.The District Collector, District Collector Office, Dindigul, Didigul Distrit-624 004. 5.The Deputy Director, Geology and Mining District Collector Office Campus, Dindigul District-624 004. 6.M/s.Terraa Stones, Represented by Mr.V.Karthikeyan, 3A, Premalaya Apartment, 163, Alwing Nagar, Senguthapuram, Karur-629 002. ... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorari, to call for the records pertaining to the impugned order passed by the 1st respondent vide proceedings in G.O.(3D) No.21 dated 17.09.2025 and quash the same as illegal. For Petitioner :Mr.R.Karunanidhi For Respondents :Mr.Ajmal Khan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.C.Venkatesh Kumar Special Government Pleader for R1, R3 to R5 : Mr.K.Suresh for R6 : Mr.N.Dilipkumar for R2