Madras HC has summoned the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Salem Range before the court to explain the action taken against illegal mineral mining worth Rs 100 crores in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts, particularly in lands belonging to temples.
Petitioner A Radhakrishnan moved a contempt petition seeking action against authorities for their inaction against the illegal mining despite a court order directing immediate action. When the petition came up before the bench of Justice SM Subramaniam, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department (HR and CE) filed an action taken report. After perusing the report, the judge said, “contents of the report are shocking the conscience of his court, since illegal mining operations in temple lands are made to the tune of several hundred crores of rupees”.
Assistance Commissioner of HR and CE department Jothilakshmi appeared before the court and submitted the report.
The report said, “In the Arulmigu Hanumanthacharya Swamy temple, Nagamangalam. Denkanikotti, the value of the stolen mineral is roughly Rs.28.5 crore, and in the Arulmigu Pattalaamman temple in Beleguli, Krishnagiri, the value of the stone stolen is Rs. 70 crore.
The court said, “Even HR and CE department officials are not able to enter the temple lands as unruly elements are preventing the public servants from performing their duties. Such lawlessness in any inaction will not be allowed by Government under any circumstances. It has been brought to the notice of this court that large scale illegal mining activities are going on in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts and several hundreds of criminal cases have been made. Authorities are unable to initiate appropriate actions against illegal mining activities, and such properties belong to the nation. This court has to step in and initiate action to protect the nation’s wealth. Few greedy people cannot be allowed to loot the nation’s wealth for unjust personal gains”.
Expressing shock over the looting of natural resources worth Rs 198.65 crore from the land belonging to two temples in Krishnagiri district, the Madras High Court has ordered the DIG of police, Salem Range, to file a report on the illegal mining done in land belonging to the temples and other places, details of criminal cases registered against such illegal miners and the subsequent action taken against them. It has ordered the appearance of the DIG at 10.30 on July 26.
Hailing the court intervention, temple activist TR Ramesh, in his social media platform X, said, “The @tnhrcedept’s official’s report in the Court reveals that the officials of the Dept did NOTHING to save the temple properties—Massive loot of Rs200 Crores—Shocked by this, the Hon’ble Court summons the DIG of police to appear before it and explain.”
In Tamil Nadu, the plundering of natural resources by political and official nexus, irrespective of the Government at the helm, has been going on unabated despite exposure by media, ED and court actions. Sand, stone, rare minerals, and granite are illegally quarried over and above the limit allowed. The illegally looted national wealth is being sold to neighbouring states for a high profit by greedy politicians in league with the enforcement, revenue, and mineral department officials.
