S.UNNIKRISHNAN Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Instant public interest litigation is filed alleging the inaction on the part of State Government in implementing Section 23C of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 ('Act, 1957', for short). Section 23C of Act, 1957 empowers the State Government to make rules for preventing illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals. Section 23C(2)(a), (b), (d) and (e) specifically empowers the State Government to establish 'check-posts' for checking of minerals under transit, to establish 'weigh-bridges' to measure the quantity of mineral being transported, to conduct inspection, checking and search of minerals at the place of excavation or storage or during transit and to maintain registers and forms for the purpose of these rules.

(2.) Prayers sought for in this writ petition are as follows:

(3.) Grounds raised in support of the prayers are as follows: