madurai
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Dindigul Collector to submit a status report to the court on a PIL complaining of soil theft in Periyammapatti village near Palani in Dindigul district.
A division bench of Justice Pushpa Satyanarayana and Justice P. Velmurugan sought the details of vacant government land available in the village and the amount of soil stolen. The State submitted that a case was registered for theft of soil.
Taking cognizance of this argument, the court directed the collector to conduct an inquiry to find out the extent of soil theft. The court wanted to know what steps have been taken so far to check the theft of soil.
As to what action would be taken to check the theft of soil, the judges directed the officials to expedite the investigation in the matter. The judges also sought details of the present status of the soil theft case.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by P. Ashok Kumar of Palani. He complained that influential people were picking up soil from the village land which was suitable for farming and using it for the production of bricks.
The petitioner submitted that even after several complaints and representations to the authorities, no appropriate action was initiated.
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