BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 06.03.2026 CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN W.P.(MD)No.4831 of 2026 C.Dhanasekaran ... Petitioner Vs.

1. The District Collector, Sivagangai District, Collectorate Campus, Sivagangai – 630 561.

2. The District Environmental Engineer, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Sivagangai District.

3. The Assistant Director, Department of Geology and Mining, Sivagangai District.

4. The Tahsildar, Singampunari Taluk, Sivagangai District.

5. The Block Development Officer, Singampunari Panchayat Union, Sivagangai District

6. Sri Senthur Murugan Aggregates and M-Sand Private Limited, Rep. by its Managing Director, Jayankondanilai Village, Singampunari Taluk, Sivagangai District - 625102 ... Respondents PRAYER:- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus forbearing the respondents 1 to 5 from granting consent, license or permission for establishment and operation of the proposed stone crusher and M-Sand unit by the 6^th Respondent in Survey Nos.52/1C, 54/1 and 54/2 situated at Jayankondanilai Village, Singampunari Taluk, in Sivagangai District, in and around the adjoining E.Malampatti Village Panchayat area, Madurai District, in the interest of environmental protection, agricultural livelihood and public welfare.

For Petitioner : Mr.R.Suriya Narayanan For Respondents : Mr.A.Kannan, Addl. Govt. Pleader for R1 to R5 Mr.K.Govindarajan, for Mr.Prasanna Vinoth for R6

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.)

This Writ Petition is filed seeking a direction to forbear the respondents 1 to 5 from granting consent, license or permission for establishment and operation of the proposed stone crusher and M-Sand unit by the 6^th Respondent in Survey Nos.52/1C, 54/1 and 54/2 situated at Jayankondanilai Village, Singampunari Taluk, in Sivagangai District, in and around the adjoining E.Malampatti Village Panchayat area, Madurai District, in the interest of environmental protection, agricultural livelihood and public welfare.

2. It is the contention of the petitioner that the 6^th respondent used to purchase lands from small farmers and, in this manner, he has acquired about 40 acres of land and is attempting to convert the same for industrial purposes, namely for establishing a stone crusher, which would lead to environmental pollution.

3. A question was raised regarding the petitioner's locus standi.

The learned counsel for the petitioner admitted that, though the petitioner is presently residing in Coimbatore, he has filed this Writ Petition as he originally hails from the said place.

4. When a person residing in Coimbatore files this type of Writ Petition, thereby stalling the authorities from pursuing the grant of licence, this Court finds that there appears to be some motive behind the filing of the petition.

5. However, the learned Additional Government Pleader, on instructions, submitted that the 6^th respondent has sought permission to run a crusher unit and the proposed site is situated more than 1 km away from the residential area, and there are no schools or colleges in the vicinity of the said area.

6. In view of the above, merely on the basis of the apprehension expressed by the petitioner, the right of the 6^th respondent to apply for a licence cannot be stalled in the guise of a public interest litigation. It is for the competent authorities to consider the application for licence, after obtaining a No Objection Certificate from the Pollution Control Board and taking into consideration the environmental aspects.

Therefore, this Court does not find any merit in the Writ Petition.

7. With the above observations, this Writ Petition is dismissed.

There shall be no order as to costs.

[N.S.K., J.] & [M.J.R., J.]

06.03.2026 Index :Yes/No Internet :Yes vsm To

1. The District Collector, Sivagangai District, Collectorate Campus, Sivagangai – 630 561.

2. The District Environmental Engineer, Tam