1. The petitioner, who was formerly the president of a village panchayat and who was also a member of the District Panchayat, has come up with the above writ petition, by way of public interest litigation, challenging an order dated 18.11.2014, issued by the District Collector, Tiruchirappalli and seeking a consequential mandamus to direct the Director of Rural Development to transfer the entire seigniorage fee to Account No. 1 of respective village panchayats within his control.

2. We have heard Mr. V. Selvaraj, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, Mr. B. Pugalendhi, learned Special Government Pleader, appearing for the respondents 1 to 4 and Mr. C. Vakeeswaran, learned counsel for the 5th respondent.

3. By the order impugned in the writ petition, dated 18.11.2014, the District Collector of Tiruchirappalli, has directed 75% of the seigniorage fee of about Rs. 14,54,36,112/- collected from sand and other mineral quarries, to be deposited into Village Panchayat Account No. 3, in proportion to the area of the quarry located in each of the panchayats. This order has been purporte