P. Sathasivam, J.

People Health and Development Council, represented by its Secretary S.M. Govindasamy, East Sottaiyampalayam, R.M. Puthur, Erode-5 has filed Writ Petition No. 5494 of 1998 for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 4 therein, namely, Forest and Environment Department, Housing and Urban Development Department, Pollution Control Board and Collector, Erode District respectively to close down Tannery Units of respondents 5 to 38. One M. Thangavelu of Ayagoundarapalayam, Gnanapathipalayam, Erode has filed Writ Petition No. 30153 of 2003 praying for a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 3, namely, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, the District Collector, Erode and the District Environment-Welfare Engineer, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Erode-3 to take action against all the industries in and around Erode by closing the industries.

2. The case of the People Health and Development Council, as set out in W.P.No.5494/1998 is briefly stated hereunder:

It is a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act. It is a voluntary organisation working for the protection of environment and promoting public health in and a