It added that 1,439 illegal quarries were detected from 2020 till November 2025, and that 135 cases had been registered in this connection.
While observing that the report filed by the Tamil Nadu government was acceptable, the judges stressed that it must be implemented in practice.
The judges then asked why details such as the number of cases in which convictions were secured had not been furnished. The court also questioned the utility of imposing a fine of Rs 5 lakh when illegal mining worth Rs 5 crore was being carried out.
Passing orders in the case, the judges reiterated that criminals involved in illegal mineral mining were operating like mafia gangs, with the support of political and monetary power.
The court further instructed that surprise inspections should be conducted to prevent illegal sand and mineral mining and closed the case.
It added that 1,439 illegal quarries were detected from 2020 till November 2025, and that 135 cases had been registered in this connection.
While observing that the report filed by the Tamil Nadu government was acceptable, the judges stressed that it must be implemented in practice.
The judges then asked why details such as the number of cases in which convictions were secured had not been furnished. The court also questioned the utility of imposing a fine of Rs 5 lakh when illegal mining worth Rs 5 crore was being carried out.
Passing orders in the case, the judges reiterated that criminals involved in illegal mineral mining were operating like mafia gangs, with the support of political and monetary power.
The court further instructed that surprise inspections should be conducted to prevent illegal sand and mineral mining and closed the case.