Madras High Court
Kathiresan vs The Revenue Divisional Officer on 9 September, 2019
Author: M.M.Sundresh
Bench: M.M.Sundresh
W.P.No.25540 of 2019 etc batch
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 09.09.2019
CORAM
THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE M.M.SUNDRESH
and
THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RMT. TEEKAA RAMAN
W.P.Nos. 24094, 25540, 25723, 25767, 25771, 25772,
25901 to 25903, 25906, 25907, 25912 to 25914, 25916,
25917, 25927, 25930, 25932, 25933, 25936,
25938,25939, 25944, 25967 to 25969, 25971 to 25974,
25976 to 25978, 25980, 25982, 25985, 25986, 25988,
25989, 25991, 25994 to 25998, 26001, 26002, 26004,
26007, 26008, 26010 to 26012, 26016, 26017, 26020,
26022, 26024, 26026,26028, 26031, 26032, 26034,
26037, 26038, 26040, 26041, 26043, 26044, 26045,
26048, 26050, 26052, 26055, 26061, 26063, 26070,
26075, 26088, 26094, 26100,26105, 26108, 26134,
26135, 26145 to 26147, 26149 to 26151, 26153, 26155 to
26158, 26161, 26163, 26164, 26165, 26168, 26174,
26176, 26177, 26185, 26188, 26193, 26199, 26201,
26204, 26205, 26214, 26217, 26225, 26227, 26228,
26230, 26237, 26244, 26253, 26263, 26265, 26269,
26270, 26272, 26275, 26278, 26280, 26291, 26300,
26303, 26308, 26313, 26315, 26316, 26317, 26321,
26329, 26331, 26342, 26343, 26348, 26367 to 26369,
26420, 26422, 26427, 26429, 26430, 26525, 26528,
26608 to 26611, 26618, 26621, 26646, 26659, 26683,
26686, 26698, 26747, 26852, 26854 of 2019
Page No.1 of 17
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
W.P.No.25540 of 2019 etc batch
W.P.No.24094 OF 2019
Kathiresan .. Petitioner
Vs.
1.The Revenue Divisional Officer,
O/o.Revenue Divisional Office,
Chidambaram,
Cuddalore District.
2.The Tahsildar,
O/o.Tahsildar Office,
Kattumannarkoil Taluk,
Cuddalore District.
3.The Inspector of Police,
Kattumannarkoil Police Station,
Kattumannarkoil,
Cuddalore District. ... Respondents
Writ petition in W.P.No.24094 of 2019 is filed under Article
226 of the Constitution of India seeking to issue a writ of
mandamus directing the 1st respondent to release the vehicle
namely Mahindra Tractor 575 D1 bearing Engine
No.NHF3MAE01050 and Chasis No.MBNAAALXAHNF 00603 and
the Tipper seized by the 3rd respondent to the petitioner.
Page No.2 of 17
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
W.P.No.25540 of 2019 etc batch
For Petitioners : Mr.G.Pugazhenthi
in W.P.No.24094 of 2019
Mr.T.Shanmugam
in W.P.No.25540 of 2019
Mr.K.Manikandan
in W.P.Nos.26174,26225,
26227, 26228, 26230, 26265,
26269, 26272, 26275, 26278,
26147, 26151, 26153, 26157,
26163 of 2019
Mr.S.Gowsik Sundar
in W.P.No.26176 of 2019
Ms.S.P.Arthi
in W.P.Nos.26199, 26204,
26342 of 2019
Mr.K.Venkatesan
in W.P.Nos.26135, 25927,
25930, 25932, 25933, 25936,
25938, 25939, 26034, 26038,
26040, 26041, 26044, 26045
of 2019
Mr.M.Sathish Kumar
in W.P.Nos.26100, 26105,
26108, 26007, 26010, 26016,
25903, 25906, 25907, 25977,
25978, 25982, 25985, 25901,
25902, 26270, 26280 of 2019
Mr.G.Vinodh Kumar
in W.P.Nos.26185, 25723,
25913 of 2019
Page No.3 of 17
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
W.P.No.25540 of 2019 etc batch
Mr.K.Panjamurthy
in W.P.No.26177 of 2019
Mr.Nirmal Krishnan
in W.P.Nos.26008, 26158
26263, 26313 of 2019
Mr.K.Govindaraj
in W.P.No.26253 of 2019
Mr.V.Thiyagarajan
in W.P.No.26168 of 2019
Mr.M.Rajinikanth
in W.P.Nos.26165, 26214,
26698 of 2019
Mr.A.Saranraj
in W.P.Nos.26244, 26331 of
2019
Mr.S.Paul Gnanamuthu
in W.P.Nos.26201 and 26050
of 2019
Mr.S.Sekar
in W.P.Nos.26193, 25991,
25995 of 2019
Mr.Prabakaran
in W.P.No.26188 of 2019
Mr.R.Jayaprakash
in W.P.No.26063 of 2019
Mr.E.Prabhu
in W.P.No.26145 of 2019
Page No.4 of 17
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
W.P.No.25540 of 2019 etc batch
Mr.M.Kumaravel
in W.P.No.26012 of 2019
Mr.M.Murali
in W.P.Nos.26048, 26052,
26055, 26061 of 2019
Mr.C.S.Saravanan
in W.P.Nos.26315 and 26317,
of 2019
Mr.M.Selvam
in W.P.Nos.25767, 25771,
25772 of 2019
Mr.R.Pragadeeswaran
in W.P.No.25967 of 2019
Mr.G.Mageshkumar
in W.P.No.25944 of 2019
Mr.V.Ravi
in W.P.No.26164 of 2019
Mr.Belman
in W.P.Nos.26149 and 26156
of 2019
Mr.T.Gnanabanu
in W.P.No.26146 of 2019
Mr.T.Muruganantham
in W.P.Nos.25997, 26004,
26011, 25994 of 2019
Page No.5 of 17
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
W.P.No.25540 of 2019 etc batch
Mr.P.Chandrasekar
in W.P.Nos.25996, 26001,
25980, 25986, 26427, 26329
of 2019
Mr.B.Jawahar
in W.P.No.25989 of 2019
Mr.P.S.Kothandaraman
in W.P.No.25916 of 2019
Mr.S.C.Vishwanth
in W.P.No.25988 of 2019
Mr.M.R.Thangavel
in W.P.Nos.25974, 25976 of
2019
Mr.S.Saravanakumar
in W.P.Nos.25969, 25971,
25972 and 25973 of 2019
Mr.K.Balaji
in W.P.Nos.26150 and
26155 of 2019
Mr.M.P.Saravanan
in W.P.No.26161 of 2019
Mr.K.Balasubramaniam
in W.P.Nos.26134, 25968
of 2019
Mr.B.S.Ramesh
in W.P.Nos.25912, 25914
of 2019
Page No.6 of 17
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
W.P.No.25540 of 2019 etc batch
Mr.S.Silambu Selvan
in W.P.No.25917 of 2019
Mr.M.Rajendidran
in W.P.Nos.26525, 26528,
26343, 26348 of 2019
Mr.M.R.Kuyilan
in W.P.No.26430 of 2019
Mr.KB.Vivekanandhan
in W.P.No.26429 of 2019
Mr.G.Punniyakoti
in W.P.Nos.26017, 26020,
and 26022 of 2019
Mr.Greetha Senthil Kumar
in W.P.Nos.26026, 26028,
26031, 26075, 26854 of
2019
Mr.U.Adhiyaman
in W.P.No.26070 of 2019
Mr.R.Sasikumar
in W.P.Nos.26088,26094,
26422 of 2019
Mr.S.Raja Ravi Varma
in W.P.Nos.26367,26368,
26369, 26420 of 2019
Mr.C.Kousalya Devi
in W.P.Nos.26608 and
26609 of 2019
Page No.7 of 17
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
W.P.No.25540 of 2019 etc batch
Mr.D.Jagadeesan
in W.P.Nos.26610 & 26611
of 2019
Mr.S.Sugendran
in W.P.No.26618 of 2019
Mr.B.Gopala Krishnan
in W.P.Nos.26024, 26032,
26037, 26043 of 2019
Mr.S.Sasi Kumar
in W.P.No.25998 of 2019
Mr.R.Vetrivel
in W.P.Nos.26002, 26237
of 2019
Mr.S.Sathish
in W.P.No.26217 of 2019
Mr.K.M.Vijayan
in W.P.No.26205 of 2019
Mr.M.Suresh
in W.P.Nos.26659, 26621
of 2019
Mr.R.Thirumoorthy
in W.P.No.26646 of 2019
Mr.G.Sailendra Babu
in W.P.Nos.26683 & 26686
of 2019
Mr.J.Jayamalan
in W.P.No.26747 of 2019
Page No.8 of 17
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
W.P.No.25540 of 2019 etc batch
Mr.T.Karthikeyan
in W.P.No.26852 of 2019
Mr.D.Meenakshi Sundaram
in W.P.Nos.26291, 26300,
26303, 26308 of 2019
Mr.G.Soma Sekar
in W.P.No.26316 of 2019
Mr.V.Kasinatha Bharathi
in W.P.No.26321 of 2019
For Respondents : Mr.G.Akil Akbar Ali
Government Advocate in
W.P.Nos.25540, 26174,26176,
26225, 26227, 26228, 26230,
26265, 26269, 26272, 26275,
26278, 26199, 26204, 26135,
26100, 26105, 26108, 26185,
26177,26263, 26253, 26168,
26165, 26244, 26201, 26193,
26188, 26008, 26007, 26010,
26016, 26063, 26050, 26145,
26012, 26048, 26052, 26055,
26061, 26315, 26317, 25767,
25771, 25772, 25723, 25967,
25944, 26164, 26149, 26156,
26146, 25903, 25906, 25907,
25997, 26004, 26011, 25994,
25996, 26001, 25989, 25927,
25930, 25932, 25933, 25936,
25938, 25939, 25916, 25988,
25980, 25986, 25974, 25976,
25969, 25971, 25972 and
25973 of 2019
Page No.9 of 17
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
W.P.No.25540 of 2019 etc batch
For Respondents : Mr.E.Manoharan
Addl. Government Pleader in
W.P.Nos.26150, 26155, 26158,
26147, 26151, 26153, 26157,
26163, 26161, 26214, 26134,
25968, 25977, 25978, 25982,
25985, 25901, 25902, 25912,
25914, 25913, 25917, 26525,
26430, 26429, 26528, 26017,
26020, 26022, 26026, 26028,
26031, 26070, 26075, 26088,
26094, 26367, 26368, 26369,
26608, 26609, 26420, 26610,
26611, 26422, 26427, 26618,
26034, 26038, 26040, 26041,
26044, 26045, 26024, 26032,
26037, 26043, 26270, 26280,
25991, 25995, 25998, 26002,
26237, 26217, 26205, 26659,
26646, 26621, 26683 , 26686,
26698, 26747, 26852, 26854,
24094, 26291, 26313, 26316,
26321, 26329, 26331, 26342,
26343 and 26348 of 2019
COMMON ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by M.M.SUNDRESH,J.) All these writ petitions have been filed seeking a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to release the vehicles, which are allegedly involved in the violation of the provisions of Page No.10 of 17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ W.P.No.25540 of 2019 etc batch the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and Tamil Nadu Minor and Mineral Concession Rules, 1959.
2. As rightly submitted by the learned Additional Government Pleader and the learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents, the issue involved has already been dealt with by this Court, wherein it has been held that the jurisdiction Court is the Designated Court and the Revenue Officials/Persons Authorised do have the power only to seize the vehicles but not to release.
3. Special Leave Petitions in S.L.P.Nos.33477-33479 of 2018 filed against the common order passed by the Division Bench of this Court W.P.(MD) Nos.19936 of 2017, 7595 and 21485 of 2018 dated 29.10.2018 were also dismissed. The following paragraphs of the common order passed in Review Application (MD) Nos.80 to 82 of 2019 dated 09.09.2019 would be apposite.
“9. As per these provisions, the power of seizure is Page No.11 of 17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ W.P.No.25540 of 2019 etc batch certainly available with the officer or authority empowered accordingly. Such a seizure would involve the actual mineral, machinery by way of tool and equipment, vehicle or such incidental materials. As per Section 21(4A) of the M&M Act, such seized materials are liable to be confiscated by an order of Court competent to take cognizance of the offence under Section 21(1) of the M&M Act and the seized materials are to be disposed of in accordance with the directions of such Court. Taking note of the aforesaid provisions, we have held that what is permissible to the Revenue Officials, namely the officer authorized, is only the seizure and not confiscation or disposal of such materials. The said reasoning adopted, in our considered view, does not require any re-look, though we respectfully agree with the learned Advocate General that there is a factual error in coming to the conclusion that insertion has taken place only by Act 10 of 2015 which is, in fact, only an amendment. We may note that the Act does not specifically deal with the issue qua release. Once we hold that the power of confiscation lies with the Court alone, the question qua release shall also be decided by it alone. We are dealing with a penal provision in a regulatory statute and therefore the word 'shall' will have to be given the actual Page No.12 of 17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ W.P.No.25540 of 2019 etc batch meaning. Thus, confiscation is the rule and release in the consequence, of an adjudication. The question of release would arise only on the decision as to whether confiscation is required or not.
10. The further submission made was with respect to the effect of Section 23-A of the M&M Act. We would like to quote the aforesaid provision:-
“23A. Compounding of offences.-(1) Any offence punishable under this Act or any rule made thereunder may, either before or after the institution of the prosecution, be compounded by the person authorised under section 22 to make a complaint to the court with respect to that offence, on payment to that person, for credit to the Government, of such sum as that person may specify: Provided that in the case of an offence punishable with fine only, no such sum shall exceed the maximum amount of fine which may be imposed for that offence.
(2) Where an offence is compounded under sub-section (1), no proceeding or further proceeding, as the case may be, shall be taken against the offender in respect of the offence so compounded, and the offender, if in custody, shall be released forthwith.” Page No.13 of 17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ W.P.No.25540 of 2019 etc batch
11. Section 23A of the M&M Act, as stated, only speaks about the compounding of offence. Such a power can be exercised by the officer authorized under Section 22 of the M&M Act taking note of the complaint to the Court with respect to the offence. It can be exercised either before or after the institution of the proceedings.
12. There is a distinction between the compounding of offence and confiscation or release. Similarly, the seizure is different from confiscation and release. Seizure is an act which is to be done after finding that the vehicle, mineral or tool is involved in the offence and there is contravention of the provisions by way of illegal transporting. Therefore, once seizure is made there are two options open to the authorized officer – one is, he can give a complaint and leave the rest to the Court and the second is exercise of power of compounding. In both the cases, he cannot release the vehicle or the other materials seized. The effect of compounding is that the offender gets the prosecution avoided qua the offence. However, the question of release or confiscation still rests with the Court. Therefore, the collection of fine, if any, can only be relatable to the offence to be Page No.14 of 17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ W.P.No.25540 of 2019 etc batch compounded. Thus, it is for the Court to decide as to whether the vehicle is to be confiscated or released.”
4. Thus, in view of the common order passed in W.P.(MD) Nos.19936 of 2017, 7595 and 21485 of 2018 dated 29.10.2018 followed by the subsequent order in Review Applications Writ (MD) Nos.80 to 82 of 2019 dated 09.09.2019, all these writ petitions are dismissed. No costs. However, liberty is given to the petitioners to work out the remedy before the Designated Court.
5. It is also brought to the notice of this Court that the Designated Courts have already been constituted in compliance of the order passed by this Court. The Government Order in G.O.(Ms) No.298, Home (Courts-II) Department, dated 13.06.2019, has been issued designating the Principal Judge, City Civil Court, Chennai and the Principal District Judges/District Judges in the State of Tamil Nadu to deal with the offences in contravention of the provisions of the Mines and Minerals Page No.15 of 17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ W.P.No.25540 of 2019 etc batch (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. If the earlier petitions are dismissed by the Designated Court on the ground of maintainability, the same will not stand in the way of fresh applications being dealt with by the Designated Courts on merits.
(M.M.S.,J.) (T.K.R.,J)
09.09.2019
Index:Yes/No
raa
To
1.The Revenue Divisional Officer, O/o.Revenue Divisional Office, Chidambaram, Cuddalore District.
2.The Tahsildar, O/o.Tahsildar Office, Kattumannarkoil Taluk, Cuddalore District.
3.The Inspector of Police, Kattumannarkoil Police Station, Kattumannarkoil, Cuddalore District.
Page No.16 of 17https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ W.P.No.25540 of 2019 etc batch M.M.SUNDRESH, J.
and TEEKAA RAMAN, J.
raa W.P.Nos.24094 of 2019 etc., batch.
09.09.2019 Page No.17 of 17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/