JUDGMENT :

B. Pugalendhi, J.

(Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondents 1 to 5 to prevent illegal quarrying of sand mining from Thamirabarani River near Agaram Kudiyuruppu, Vallanadu Village, Srivaigundam Taluk, Thoothukudi District, by the sixth respondent and initiate action against the sixth respondent based on the petitioner's representation dated 24.09.2020.)

This writ petition is filed by the petitioner, as a public interest litigation, for a writ of mandamus directing the respondents 1 to 5 to prevent illegal quarrying of sand from river Thamirabarani near Agaram Kudiyuruppu, Vallanadu Village, Srivaigundam Taluk, Tuticorin District by the sixth respondent and for taking appropriate action as against the sixth respondent.

2. The Government, considering the need to raise the water table, decided to construct a Check Dam across river Thamirabarani near Agaram Kudiyuruppu in Vallanadu Village of Srivaigundam Taluk. The contract for construction was awarded to the sixth respondent in the year 2