The central legal point established in the judgment is that the petitioner's quarrying activities were illegal and in violation of the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957.

JUDGMENT :

(Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the 2nd respondent to send clarification letters to the Port authorities of Chennai and Tuticorin and to the Manager, Indian Bank, Madurai, the Manager, State Bank of India, Commercial Branch, Madurai and to the manager, Indian Bank (MEPZ) Chennai, clarifying that the letters issued to the Chennai Port Trust and Tuticorin Port Trust on 21.08.2012 and letters issued to the said banks on 28.08.2012 and 29.08.2019 are pertaining to the quarries situated in Madurai District only and in respect of the specified bank account numbers and also clarifying that there is impediment for the petitioner to operate the bank accounts in respect of the petitioner's business (i) to procure granite blocks from the other leasehold granite quarrying operators within the State and Inter State and (ii) to import granite blocks from foreign countries and to produce dimensional granite blocks, slabs, tiles and other articles of granite in the factory of the petitioner's firm in Therkkuthery and Narasingampatti Village, Melur Taluk, Madurai District and to export and to sell the same in the Domestic Tariff Area on the basis of the petitioner's representation to the 2nd respondent dated 20.08.2018 and in accordance with law.)

1. This writ petition has been filed for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the 2nd respondent to send clarification letters to the Port authorities of Chennai and Tuticorin and to the Manager, Indian Bank, Madurai, the Manager, State Bank of India, Commercial Branch, Madurai and to the manager, Indian Bank (MEPZ) Chennai, clarifying that the letters issued to the Chennai Port Trust and Tuticorin Port Trust on 21.08.2012 and letters issued to the said banks on 28.08.2012 and 29.08.2019 are pertaining to the quarries situated in Madurai District only and in respect of the specified bank account numbers and also clarifying that there is impediment for the petitioner to operate the bank accounts in respect of the petitioner's business (i) to procure granite blocks from the other leasehold granite quarrying operators within the State and Inter State and (ii) to import granite blocks from foreign countries and to produce dimensional granite blocks, slabs, tiles and other articles of granite in the factory of the petitioner's firm in Therkkuthery and Narasingampatti Village, Melur Taluk, Madurai District and to export and to sell the same in the Domestic Tariff Area on the basis of the petitioner's representation to the 2nd respondent dated 20.08.2018 and in accordance with law.

2. The submissions of the learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioner are as follows :

2.1. The petitioner's firm is an export oriented Unit recognized by the Madras Export Processing Zone under the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Government of India, New Delhi. The petitioner engaged in manufacture of dimensional granite block, slab, tiles, monuments and other articles of granites. They set up a factory for cutting and polishing of granite in Therkkutheru and Narasingampatti village, Melur Taluk, Madurai District since 2005.

2.2. While being so, criminal cases have been registered as against the petitioner in connection with Madurai District granite quarrying issues. In pursuant to the cases, the 2nd respondent directed the Port Trust authorities of Chennai and Tuticorin to withhold all the transport of Carco till the completion of investigation. The letters issued on the strength of FIRs registered in crime Nos. 155/12, 157/12, 171/12, 175/12 on the file of Keelavalavu Police Station and crime No.411/12 on the file of Othakadai Police Station, Madurai District. The 2nd respondent also issued letter dated 28.08.2012 and 29.08.2012 to the Manager, Indian Bank, Madurai, The Manager, State Bank of India, Commercial Branch, Madrurai, The Manager, State Bank of India, Multi City Cheque, Madurai and The Manager, Indian B