Court allows objections against quarry lease notification violation of safety regulations within proximity to inhabited areas.

ORDER

Challenging the tender notification dated 29.01.2026 issued by the first respondent in Rc. No 36/ 2026 / Mines -A, insofar as it relates to the poramboke lands in S.No.3 (Part) and 39 (part), Sandiyur Village, Salem Taluk and District, the present Writ Petition has been filed. Consequently, the petitioner has sought for a direction to forbid the respondents from renewing, re-auctioning, or granting any quarry lease in respect of the said lands.

2. Heard the learned counsels appearing on either side.

3. It is the case of the petitioner that he is the owner of the properties comprised in Survey Nos.12 to 24 to an extent of 70 acres of industrial classified lands situated in Sandiyur Village, Salem Taluk and District, which were subjected to quarry leases earlier last being on 25.02.2024. Due to continuation of quarrying activities in S.Nos.3 (Part) and 39 (part), Sandiyur Village, Salem Taluk and District, which are Government Poramboke lands, the petitioner along with some other land owners of the same locality are unable to develop their lands and hence, they raised their objections. While that being so, the present impugned notification was issued by the first respondent on 29.01.2026, for grant of quarry lease for the aforesaid lands. Aggrieved by the same, the present Writ Petition.

4. The learned Senior counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the quarrying activities are taking place in the Government Poramboke lands in S.Nos.3 (Part) and 39 (part), Sandiyur Village, Salem Taluk and District, which are within 300 meters of the petitioner’s property which is a clear violation of the Rule 36(1)A of the Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1959 [for brevity, hereinafter “the Rules”] as the same impose a clear prohibition on the grant of quarry leases for rough stone within 300 meters of the inhabited areas. He further submitted that the petitioner’s properties are situated within 300 meters of the said Government Poramboke lands, where quarrying operations are being carried out and hence, he along with similarly affected land owners made objections as they are unable to develop their lands. He contended that as the said quarrying operations were prohibited in terms of 36(1)A of the Rules, the first respondent has issued the impugned notification dated 29.01.2026, proposing to grant quarry lease in the lands in issue and hence, the present Writ Petition.

5. Per contra, the learned Additional Advocate General appearing on behalf of the respondents 1 and 2 submitted that the objections of the petitioner and any other interested parties will be considered by the respondents prior to four weeks of the execution of the quarry lease for the aforesaid lands and thereafter, appropriate orders will be passed by the respondents in the said issue.

6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and also taking note of the submissions made by the learned Senior counsel for the petitioner as well as the learned Additional Advocate General, this Court permits the petitioner to make an application to the first respondent ventilating all his objections and grievances, within a period of one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Upon receipt of the same, the first respondent shall consider the petitioner’s application and any other objections received from any aggrieved parties and to pass appropriate orders strictly adhering to the Rules. Such an exercise shall be completed within a period of four weeks prior to the execution of the lease deed for quarrying the subject lands.

7. With the above directions, the Writ Petition stands disposed of.

Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed. There shall be no order as to costs.