Sagayam to probe illegal granite mining in Madurai only:HC

Madras High Court today clarified that the appointment of senior IAS officer U Sagayam as the Special Commissioner to investigate the illegal mining is limited to granite quarrying and to the Madurai region in the first phase.
First bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanaraynan gave the clarification on a petition by Sagayam.
The bench had on September 11 named Sagayam as special officer/legal commissioner to probe mining leases issued by government and "violations" by permit-holders.
The order, however, had not mentioned whether the term mining would mean all forms of sand and granite mining and whether it was for the entire state.

Sagayam as the then Madurai District Collector had pegged loss to the state exchequer on account of irregularities in granite mining in the district at Rs 16,000 crore over a period of years.
On October 7, Sagayam wanted all 32 district collectors in the state to be directed to keep all records pertaining to all mining activities ready.

As only the Madurai District collector had been issued necessary directions, Sagayam filed the present petition.
"Unless the September 11 order and the terms of reference are clarified, I might fall short in the discharge of my duties," he had submitted in his petition.

The state government has opposed Sagayam's appointment and filed a review petition which was rejected by the high court.
It had contended that ordering a state officer to conduct inspection and submit a report without consulting it amounted to 'infringing' and 'usurping' the executive powers of the state.