Stone quarry
Madurai : Madras high court dismissed a plea seeking a direction to the authorities to expedite the process to recover the Rs9.52 crore penalty from blue metal quarry operators in Tirunelveli district. During the course of hearing, the state submitted that 28 separate petitions were filed by those who are conducting quarrying operations, wherein directions have been issued that the representation of quarry owners should be heard before initiating or proceeding to recover the amount imposed as penalty. The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by S P Muthu Raman of Tirunelveli district. The petitioner stated that owing to quarrying operations conducted illegally, a penalty was imposed on blue metal quarry operators. It was contended by authorities that necessary steps are being taken. A division bench of Justice C V Karthikeyan and Justice R Sakthivel observed that authorities are bound by the orders of any court more particularly, the orders wherein directions have already been issued. Hence, the judges dismissed the petition.