M.Venkatesha Prasath Vs The Principal Secretary to Government

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2026:MHC:2496

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W.P(MD)No.18290 of 2026

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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Dated : 01.07.2026

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.V.KARTHIKEYAN AND THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R. SAKTHIVEL

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W.P(MD)No.18290 of 2026

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M.Venkatesha Prasath : Petitioner Vs

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1.The Principal Secretary to Government, Revenue Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600009.

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2.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Department of Natural Resources, Secretariat, Chennai - 600009.

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3.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Public Works Department (PWD), Secretariat, Chennai -600009.

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4.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600009.

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5.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Housing and Urban Development Department, Secretariat, Chennai – 600009.

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6.The Principal Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600009.

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7.The Secretary to Government, Highways and Minor Ports Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600009.

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8.The Commissioner of Geology and Mining, Guindy, Chennai - 600032.

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9.The Chairman and Managing Director, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400005.

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10.The Site Director, Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP), Kudankulam, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu.

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11.The Station Director, Madras Atomic Power Station (Maps), Kalpakkam, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

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12.The General Manager, Southern Railway, Railway Headquarters, Park Town, Chennai - 600003.

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13.The Chairman, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), G-5 and 6, Sector-10, Dwarka, New Delhi-110075.

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14.The Regional Officer, National Highways Authority of India, Chennai Regional Office, Tamil Nadu.

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15.The Chairman, Thoothukudi Port Authority, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.

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16.The Managing Director,

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Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (Twad Board) Chennai-600005.

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17.The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board, Chennai-600005.

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18.The Chief Executive Officer, Smart City Mission, Tamil Nadu.

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19.The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Road Infrastructure Development Corporation (TNRDC), Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

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20.The Chairman and Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO), Chennai - 600008.

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21.The Chairman and Managing Director, State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT), Chennai – 600008.

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: Respondents

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W.P(MD)No.18290 of 2026

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PRAYER :-

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Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to constitute a State-Level Special Investigation Committee comprising senior officers of the Revenue Department, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Geology and Mining, Finance Department, Vigilance Authorities and other independent experts to conduct a comprehensive enquiry into the implementation and enforcement of Government Letter No.653/MMC.2/2025-4 dated 02.06.2025 and consequential instructions dated 21.01.2026 regarding verification of transit permits and mineral transportation authorizations in Government and Government-funded projects throughout Tamil Nadu; to identify instances of illegal procurement, transportation and utilization of minor minerals, assess the resultant loss to the State exchequer, initiate recovery proceedings and appropriate disciplinary, vigilance and criminal action against all persons responsible, by considering the petitioner's representation dated 04.06.2026 within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.

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For Petitioner : Mr.R.Rajeshkumar

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For Respondents : Mr.M.P.Senthil Counsel for State of TN for R1 to R8 Mr.K.Govindarajan Deputy Solicitor General of India for R12 Mr.P.Karthik for R14

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W.P(MD)No.18290 of 2026

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ORDER

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(Order of the Court was made by C.V.Karthikeyan, J. )

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Mr.M.P.Senthil, learned Counsel for State of Tamil Nadu takes

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notice for the respondents 1 to 8, Mr.K.Govindarajan, learned Deputy Solicitor General of India, takes notice for the twelth respondent and Mr.P.Karthik, learned counsel takes notice for the fourteenth respondent.

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This writ petition has been filed in the nature of a Public Interest Litigation by an Advocate seeking a direction that a State-Level Special Investigation Committee should be constituted by the respondents comprising of senior officers of the Revenue Department, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Geology and Mining, Finance Department, Vigilance Authorities and other independent experts, who have neither been identified nor specified, to conduct a comprehensive enquiry into the implementation and enforcement of Government Letter No.653/MMC.2/2025-4 dated 02.06.2025 and the consequent instructions dated 21.01.2026.

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There are about 21 respondents. It is not known which of the

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respondents should take responsibility for forming such Committee. It is also not known whether the Committee would have investigating powers, since the petitioner terms it as a State-Level Investigation Committee. Any investigation could be done only by an authorised agency and not by a Committee as such, which can only forward a report.

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Even otherwise, the learned counsel stated that he has not come across any specific instance necessitating formation of a Committee to examine the enforcement of the Government Letter dated 02.06.2025. The learned counsel further stated that he has sought information under the Right to Information Act and, as on date, has not received any information.

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The learned Deputy Solicitor General of India appearing for the twelfth respondent submitted that, since various Central Government authorities have been impleaded, if a reply has not been received under the Right to Information Act, the petitioner always has the remedy of filing an appeal, since the Act is an inbuilt Act.

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We are not able to understand the necessity for the formation of such a Committee. It is also common knowledge that, even if a Committee is formed, further rules and guidelines will have to be put in place to regulate the functioning of the Committee, and that again would not only tell upon the exchequer of the State or the Central Government, but also upon the free flow of functioning. Be that as it may, the Government letter dated 02.06.2025 is actually a circular issued by the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government/State Government. It is not known why the Central Government officials have been impleaded in the writ petition when it appears to be a purely State issue. In the said circular, it has been directed that verification of legal status of the minerals/size reduced minerals shall be undertaken and therefore, the contractor should be insisted to submit transport permit/transit pass issued by the Department of Geology and Mining along with proof of payment of seigniorage fee to the Government. There is already a process underway. Unless it is found that the said process is not functioning or can never function or there are instances that it has been prevented from functioning, a Committee to oversee is not required. As on date, the relief

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sought is superfluous. The instructions dated 21.01.2026 are instructions issued by the Director of Geology and Mining to all the District Collectors, forwarding the minutes of the meeting held on 02.05.2025 about necessity to produce transport permits and transport passes. We are confident that the Government officials will discharge their duty. The formation of a Committee would only be a hindrance to smooth functioning. We are not inclined to grant the relief sought by the petitioner.

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