Chennai: Pointing out there is a prima facie case of collusion between government officials and those carrying on mining operations in Kowsika river bed near Aeripalayam and Pudhupalayam villages in Tirupur district, the Madras high court has directed CB-CID to file a chargesheet in the illegal mining case.
The court also said independently, the state government may start departmental proceedings against the offending officials.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M. M. Sundresh gave the directive while closing a contempt petition and a writ petition from D. Prabakaran, an agriculturist. After perusing the report placed before it by CB-CID inspector, the Bench said it was quite apparent there was a prima facie case of collusion between government officials and persons carrying on mining operations. Repeated permits were issued, some permits were issued in favour of non-applicants, some permits were issued in the name of dead persons and no spot inspection appeared to have been carried on as permits were issued even for residential plots, the Bench added.
The bench said in fact, the permit holders have denied their signatures on application for permits. Thus, the beneficiaries were purportedly other parties than in whose names the permits have been granted. The permits were for agricultural purposes to be used, but they have been utilised practically for purposes nothing to do with agriculture.
“In view of the aforesaid, the CB-CID is directed to file a chargesheet in pursuance to the report. Requisite permission would be sought to file FIRs against relevant government officials and we expect the government to deal with this case for permission within 15 days from the date of such permission is sought by CB-CID”, the court added and listed the matter for filing status report on June 27.
Originally, Prabakaran filed a petition to direct the authorities to prohibit illegal gravel and sand mining in the names of certain individuals in Aeripalayam and Pudhupalayam villages in Tirupur district, in the guise of agricultural permits and consequently cancel permits granted to them. He submitted that only agriculturists in the river bed area were allowed to use earth accumulated in rainy season for improving fertility of agricultural lands. But there was rampant illegal mining in the area.
