Release earthmover seized during temple tank renovation: Madras high court

MADURAI: The

Madurai

bench of the Madras high court has directed the

Thanjavur district

authorities to handover an earthmover seized on suspicion that it was being used for illegal

sand mining

, after it was pointed out that the vehicle was used in desilting the temple pond at a village near

Kumbakonam

.


The earthmover belonging to M Vijayaraj was seized by the

Papanasam

police personnel on September 12, 2018 and handed over to the Kumbakonam sub-collector.

Vijayaraj’s counsel submitted to the court that renovation works were underway for the village temple and that desilting works were to be done for the tank. “Since the petitioner (Vijayaraj) was having a JCB, he was requested to lend his vehicle and while it was involved in desilting works, it was seized,” the counsel submitted.

Justice G R Swaminathan, before whom the petition came up also took note of the submission that the villagers have given petitions to the sub-collector, Kumbakonam, seeking the release of the vehicle. The villagers have given their names as well as cellphone numbers along with the petition.

Convinced that the vehicle was involved only in connection with temple works, the court waived off the usual condition of paying Rs 75,000 to the authorities and directed the authorities to release the vehicle.

However, the court directed the vehicle owner to file an undertaking before the sub-collector that he shall fully co-operate with the proceedings by any authority in this regard.