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New Indian Express
19 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Quarry accident in Sivaganga: Plea seeks action against government officials
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Friday issued notice to the state government on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought action against government officials whose negligence allegedly led to the death of six people in a stone quarry accident in Mallankottai village in Sivaganga in May this year. According to the litigant, SMA Pon Gandhimathinathan of Thoothukudi, several illegal activities took place in the quarry and M-sand produced was being transported day and night in violation of rules. Despite complaints, authorities failed to take action, he added. On May 20, there was a sudden rock slide in the quarry in which five workers died on the spot and one succumbed to injuries later, he added. Claiming that the accident took place due to lack of preventive steps by the authorities against illegal quarrying, the litigant sought action against them. He further requested the court to direct the collector to form a special cell at district level to review the matter on a monthly basis and fix responsibility on the officials concerned. He also sought a direction to constitute a district and taluk level task forces to curtail the menace and minimize the loss to the government. A bench of justices SM Subramaniam and AD Maria Clete issued notice to the authorities concerned and adjourned the case.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Plea seeks action against officials in stone quarry deaths case
Madurai: Madras high court on Friday sought a response from the state on a plea seeking a direction to initiate action against the officials responsible for the death of six people in a stone quarry at Mallakottai village in Sivaganga district in May. The deaths occurred due to the allowance of explosive material without prior permission. A division bench of justice S M Subramaniam and justice A D Maria Clete was hearing a public interest litigation filed by S M A Pon Gandhimathinathan. The petitioner stated that six workers were killed as they were trapped under the debris following a sudden rockslide at a stone quarry situated on May 20. Police registered a case against the quarry owners, and the case is pending. The incident happened due to the negligence of officials. He stated that as per a GO, the officer in charge of the department of geology and mining at the district level and the police officer in charge of the area should be held responsible for not taking action against the offenders in case of illegal mining. However, no action has been taken against the erring officials in connection with the accident. Hence, the petitioner moved court. The petitioner also sought a direction to constitute district-level and taluk-level task forces to prevent illegal mining in Sivaganga district. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- New Indian Express
Madras HC issues notice on PIL seeking safety check of grounded sulphur-laden ship at VOC Port
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Tuesday issued notice to central and state governments on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed seeking direction to conduct a safety inspection before allowing a ship, which ran aground while entering VOC Port in Thoothukudi, to leave Indian waters. Petitioner K Rajan, a former cargo ship captain from Kanniyakumari, stated that the ship MV NAVIX which was carrying over 39,000 tonnes of sulphur, ran aground on July 29, one mile away from the breakwater at the port entrance and remained grounded for two days, before being pulled back into the waters and berthed for unloading. Since the vessel carried hazardous cargo, it should be verified whether there was any environmental impact due to the grounding incident, he added. Counsel for VOC Port, informed the bench of justices SM Subramaniam and AD Maria Clete that that necessary inspection has been conducted. The case was adjourned for two weeks.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Mose Ministries case: Madras HC asks court to expedite trial
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed a trial court in Tiruchy to expedite the trial in a case registered by the CBI against an unregistered orphanage, Mose Ministries, where over 89 young women and girls were allegedly kept in illegal confinement. A bench of justices S M Subramaniam and AD Maria Clete issued the direction while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in 2015 by A Narayanan, director of the NGO Change India. The petitioner had sought the constitution of a court-appointed committee headed by a retired judge to oversee rehabilitation of the inmates. When the plea came up for hearing on Monday, the CBI counsel submitted that the investigation had been completed and a final report filed before the trial court in Tiruchy. The trial has commenced and is pending for framing of charges against the accused, he added. Recording this, the bench directed the trial court to conduct the trial expeditiously without any unnecessary adjournments. The petitioner claimed that his NGO had uncovered the illegal activities of the home in 2015, following which the high court ordered a CBI probe and appointed a committee under the collector to manage the institution. He said the inmates, though over 18 years old, lacked life skills and cannot be abandoned by the government citing their biological age as a reason.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Madras HC seeks TN reply on procedure to be followed for appointing new DGP
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Monday sought response from the state on the procedure to be adopted by it for appointing new DGP/head of police force, as incumbent DGP Shankar Jiwal is retiring on August 31. A bench of justices SM Subramaniam and AD Maria Clete gave the direction on a PIL petition filed by K Yasar Arafath of Ramanathapuram, seeking to stop the government from extending Jiwal's tenure or appointing an acting DGP, without taking any steps for empanelling eligible IPS officers and forwarding their names to the UPSC for preparing a panel. Arafath alleged that the government is deliberately doing so to ensure that an officer of its choice leads the police force till the 2026 Assembly poll. He wanted the government to appoint the new DGP through the mandatory process prescribed by the Supreme Court in 2006 Prakash Singh case.
