Disposed

R. Selvaraj v. the State of Tamilnadu

Madras HC20 Nov 2018WP(MD)/2988/2015

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The Madras High Court addressed a writ petition alleging unlawful establishment of a thermal power factory without necessary statutory licenses. Noting the factory had ceased operations, the court held no immediate closure order was needed but directed authorities to ensure future compliance with statutory obligations before resuming activity.

What did the court decide?

Directed concerned authorities to ensure the respondent engages in production only after confirming compliance with statutory obligations.

R. Selvaraj Vs the State of Tamilnadu — Environment and Pollution | Madras HC (2018)

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 20.11.2018

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CORAM:

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.K.SASIDHARAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.D.AUDIKESAVALU

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W.P.[MD]No.2988 of 2015 and M.P.[MD]Nos.1 & 2 of 2015

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R.Selvaraj : Petitioner Vs.

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1.The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by its Secretary to Government, Environment & Forests Department, Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009. 2.The District Collector, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi. 3.The Assistant Director (Panchayats), Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi. 4.The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Rep. by its Secretary, Poonamallee Road, Arumbakkam, Chennai. 5.The Environmental Engineer, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, C7, SIPCOT Industrial Complex, Meelaivittan, Thoothukudi – 8. 6.The Assistant Director, Town and Country Planning, Tirunelveli Zone, 108, Trivandrum Road, Tirunelveli – 2. 7.The Member Secretary, Local Planning Authority, https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 51, West Car Street, Thoothukudi.

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8.The Central Ground Water Authority, Rep. by its Authorised Officer, Tirunelveli.

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9.The District Fire Officer, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi.

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10.The Saminatham Panchayat, Rep. by its President, Saminatham Village, Ottapidaram Taluk, Thoothukudi District.

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11.The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Rep. by its Superintending Engineer, Thoothukudi Electricity Distribution Circle, Thoothukudi.

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12.Ind – Barath Thermal Power Limited, Rep. by its Managing Director, Puthiamputhur Road, Saminatham Village, Ottapidaram Taluk, Thoothukudi District. : Respondents

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PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for a Writ of Prohibition, prohibiting the 12^th respondent company from running the Unit in view of the non obtainment of necessary license and permission as the same is evident from the letter of the third, fifth and seventh respondents dated 05.09.2013, 08.10.2013, 23.09.2013 respectively, and direct the respondents 1 to 8 to take appropriate action against the unlawful commencement of the 12^th respondent company.

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For Petitioner : G.Thalai Mutharasu for Mr.D.Selvanayagam

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For Respondents 1 to 3 & 6 to 9 : Mr.N.Shanmugaselvam Additional Government Pleader

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For Respondent No.10 : No appearance

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For Respondent No.11 : Mr.A.U.Ramanathan

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For Respondent No.12 : Mr.R.Jameel Arasu

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https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/

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O R D E R

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[ Order of the Court was made by K.K.SASIDHARAN, J.]

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The petitioner filed this Writ Petition in pro bono publico, for a direction to the respondents 1 to 11, to take appropriate action against the 12^th respondent, on account of its functioning without obtaining statutory license and permission from the authorities.

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2.The 12^th respondent appears to have established a factory for production of thermal power, by using coal as raw material. It is the grievance of the petitioner that statutory clearance was not taken before establishing the factory by the 12^th respondent. Even though, a representation was submitted to the authorities, there was no follow up action, resulting in filing this writ petition.

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3.The Assistant Director, Town and Country Planning Department, the sixth respondent herein, filed a counter affidavit, indicating that the 12^th respondent constructed a factory building without obtaining license and permission and as such, notice was issued to show cause as to why action should not be taken against the factory.

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4.The learned Counsel for the petitioner, on instructions, submitted that the 12^th respondent discontinued the production and as such, the factory is not functioning as on today.

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5.The learned Counsel for the 12^th respondent, on instructions, submitted that the factory discontinued its manufacturing activity and as such, the relief in the writ petition has become infructuous.

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6.The petitioner has filed the writ petition on an allegation that the 12^th respondent established the factory in question without obtaining the statutory clearance from the authorities. The fact that the 12^th respondent has not obtained building permission is revealed from the counter affidavit filed by the Assistant Director, Town and Country Planning Department, Tirunelveli.

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7.Since, the 12^th respondent is no longer engaged in manufacturing of thermal power, there is no need for a direction to close the factory as such. We only direct the concerned respondents, and more particularly, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, the Environmental Engineer and the Assistant Director, Town and Country Planning Department, to ensure that the 12^th respondent engages in the production activity, only after https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ confirming to the statutory obligation under various Acts, including the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country

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Planning Act, 1971, and the Regulations made thereunder. 8.The Writ Petition is disposed of, with the above direction. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. Sd/Assistant Registrar (Crl.Side) // True Copy // Sub Assistant Registrar(CS-III)

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To 1.The Secretary to Government, State of Tamil Nadu, Environment & Forests Department, Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009. 2.The District Collector, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi. 3.The Assistant Director (Panchayats), Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi. 4.The Secretary, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Poonamallee Road, Arumbakkam, Chennai. 5.The Environmental Engineer, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, C7, SIPCOT Industrial Complex, Meelaivittan, Thoothukudi – 8. 6.The Assistant Director, Town and Country Planning, Tirunelveli Zone, 108, Trivandrum Road, Tirunelveli – 2. 7.The Member Secretary, Local Planning Authority, 51, West Car Street, https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ Thoothukudi.

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8.The Authorised Officer, Central Ground Water Authority, Tirunelveli.

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9.The District Fire Officer, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi.

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+1cc to MR.B.Jameelarasu, Advocate, Sr.No.96437.

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Order made in W.P.[MD]No.2988 of 2015 Dated: 20.11.2018

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RAM-ES/RSK/SAR 3/26.12.2018/5P/11C

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https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/

R. Selvaraj v. the State of Tamilnadu

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

R. Selvaraj v. the State of Tamilnadu

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

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