A petitioner cannot seek police protection for quarrying operations without a valid permit.

JUDGMENT

This writ petition has been filed seeking a direction to provide adequate protection to conduct a vibration test and protection to the petitioner and his workers to conduct quarrying operations in Re-Survey No.75/4 of Pariyiri Village, without any obstruction from the third respondent and his men.

2. When the writ petition came up for consideration earlier, this Court had, on 21.02.2025, granted an interim order directing adequate police protection to be granted for conducting the vibration test as mentioned in Ext.P10 stop memo. Subsequently, on 16.01.2026, an interim order was granted affording adequate and effective police protection to the petitioner to conduct quarrying operations without any obstruction as long as he held a valid licence. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as the respondents that the permit issued to the petitioner to conduct the quarrying operation expired by 17.01.2026 and thereafter the same has not been renewed.

3. Since the petitioner is not entitled to conduct quarrying operations without possessing a valid quarrying lease or a permit and it is submitted that his quarrying permit has expired, the petitioner cannot be protected with an order of police protection.

Accordingly, this writ petition is closed, reserving the liberty of the petitioner to seek appropriate remedies as and when a fresh permit or lease is obtained or renewed.

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