HC directs Ramnad collector to stop illegal quarrying operations
He said the inspector had colluded with quarry operators and allowed illegal quarrying. Madurai: Madras high court has directed Ramanathapuram district collector to take steps to stop illegal quarrying operations, initiate action against those involved and file an action taken report. The court was hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by R Prapakar. The petitioner had sought a direction to the authorities to identify, inspect, close down and seal all illegal sand quarries, murram/soil quarries and other unauthorised minor mineral quarrying operations functioning in and around Vaigai riverbed and other waterbodies and seize all vehicles, machinery and equipment used for such illegal quarrying activities in Ramanathapuram district. The petitioner further sought a direction to the director general of police to initiate appropriate departmental proceedings against the inspector of police of Paramakudi Taluk police station, Rajkumar, for dereliction of duty. A division bench of Justice P Velmurugan and Justice K K Ramakrishnan observed that the petitioner stated that the inspector colluded with the mining operators, allowing illegal quarrying. Since the report filed by govt itself shows that there were illegal quarrying operations for the past five years and that there was no action taken by the inspector, the judges directed the inspector general of police, south zone, to take action against the inspector in the manner known to law and file an action taken report.