R. THAMARAISELVAN Vs. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioner is an Advocate by profession, having more than 32 years of standing and practising at Madras High Court. Petitioner was also a Member of Parliament in the year 2009 from Dharmapuri Lok Sabha Constituency and served as such till May, 2014. Petitioner claims to be a Social Activist and has filed the Public Interest Litigation, W.P. No.4772 of 2021, against the grant of Quarry Lease for black Granites situated in Government lands in Dharmapuri District.

(2.) According to Petitioner, having seen the Notification, dtd. 18/1/2021 published in English daily 'The Hindu' in its Edition, dtd. 21/1/2021 and Tamil daily 'Dhina Mani' in its Edition, dtd. 21/1/2021, he has filed this Petition.

(3.) Petitioner's case is very narrow. According to Petitioner, Respondent No.3, District Collector, has issued a Notification in the Newspapers, as mentioned earlier, inviting tenders for 17 areas for Quarry Lease under Rule 8-A of the Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1959, without following the directions given in the Government Order, dtd. 3/6/2020. For ease of reference, the said order is scanned and reproduced below: