The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court observed that protecting ecologically rich hills is more important than safeguarding liquor shops, while hearing a petition seeking a ban on a stone quarry near Peraiyur in Madurai district.
The public interest petition was filed by Bethanan, president of the Nammalvar Nature Conservation Association. He said a hillock known as “Onan Karadu” or “Perumal Malai” near S Pappinayakkanpatti and P Sankaralingapuram contains archaeological features, including burial urns and Vattezhuthu inscriptions.
According to the petitioner, permitting quarrying in the area would harm both the archaeological remains and the natural resources of the hill, and he sought a prohibition on quarry operations.
A division bench comprising Justices B Velmurugan and K K Ramakrishnan heard the matter. The state sought time to file its counter affidavit.
The judges questioned why the government shows urgency in protecting liquor outlets but not in filing replies in such matters, and asked whether natural resources can be recovered once exploited. The court directed the Commissioner of the Tamil Nadu Department of Geology and Mining, the Director of the Archaeology Department, and the district Collector to file their responses by November 2.
