CHENNAI | March 18, 2015: The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Centre and mining companies to file their counter within four weeks to a petition seeking an SIT probe into the beach sand mining in the State.
If the counter is not filed before the deadline, it would be taken on record subject to the deposit of costs of Rs.10,000, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice S.K.Kaul and Justice M.M.Sundresh said.
The petitioner, G.Victor Rajamanickam of Shanti Nagar in Thanjavur district, submitted that there was massive corruption in mining of beach sand material such as Thorium-rich Monazite and other associate minerals. Sand dunes had been destroyed. He alleged that the State machinery was subservient to the mafia involved in coastal sand mining. The court posted the matter for further hearing on June 11.
(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/)