S.J. Mukhopadhaya, J.

This writ petition, in public interest, was preferred by the petitioner for direction on respondents 1 to 5 to take action against the respondents 6 to 8 for running illegal stone crushing units at Kulasekaram Village and to initiate prosecution against them.

2. The case of the petitioner was that respondents 6 to 8 have illegally installed three stone crushing units in different places and are emanating dust from the respective crushers causing health hazards to the residents of the neighbouring area and by the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1958, as substituted vide Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994, though it was mandatory to obtain licence from the panchayat for running factory or workshop in the vicinity, but they are running the stone crushers without such licence.

3. A reference has been made to letter No.D.Dis.135/87 (M&M) dated 25th Feb., 1987, written by the Collector, Kanyakumari District to the Commissioner, Agastheeswaram Panchayat Union. The complaint of the petitioner having been noticed by the Collector, the matter was inspected by the Assistant Geologist of his office and grievance was found to be genuine. The Collector enquired regardi