The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday directed the State government to file a counter affidavit to the petition challenging the government’s decision to impose a three-month ban on inter-State transport of minor minerals.

A Division Bench of Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel sought a response from the State government to the petition filed by P. Libin Ponnuswamy Leela of Kanniyakumari district challenging the State’s decision and posted the matter for hearing to August 10.

‘Unconstitutional ban’

The petitioner sought a direction to declare Rule 3-A of Tamil Nadu Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation, and Storage of Minerals and Mineral Dealers Rules, 2011, inserted via a Government Order imposing the three-month ban on the inter-State transport of minor minerals as unconstitutional, ultra vires, and illegal.

The petitioner said he owned trucks and regularly transported construction materials and minerals to neighbouring States. The materials were transported from licensed quarry operators with valid transit permits.

Under these circumstances, the Tamil Nadu government on July 27 imposed a blanket ban order on the transportation of minor minerals, including rough stones and its aggregates across the borders of Tamil Nadu for a period of three months.

Due to the sudden embargo, the authorities have stopped issuing inter-State transit passes and have stopped vehicles at border check posts.

The situation brought the lawful business to a grinding halt, causing immense financial distress and breach of existing commercial contracts, he said.

In view of the ban imposed by the State government, the petitioner said he would face severe legal and financial penalties for breach of contract from other State buyers due to the inability to supply contracted minerals.

Published - August 03, 2026 10:43 pm IST