APHC010153322026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3332] WEDNESDAY, THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF JUNE TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI WRIT PETITION NO: 8390/2026 Between: 1. MOTEPALLI VINAY KUMAR, S/O VENKATARATNAM, AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, R/O D.NO.3-625/32/SFII, JAMILTHOTA, UNDAVALLI RURAL, TADEPALLI MANDAL, GUNTUR DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. UNION OF INDIA, REP.BY ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS, TRANSPORT BHAVAN, 1, PARLIAMENT STREET, NEW DELHI-110401. 2. INLAND WATERWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS CHAIRMAN, HEAD OFFICE A-113, SECTOR-1, NOIDA, UTTAR PRADESH-201301. 3. THE DIRECTOR, INLAND WATERWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA, IRRIGATION CIRCLE OFFICE COMPLEX, GOVERNORPET, VI AYAWADA-520002. 4. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY WATER RESOURCES (WRG-GRC) DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILCINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT-522237. 5. ENGINEERINCHIEF IRR, WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, VIJAYAWADA-520002. 6. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, IRRIGATION CIRCLE OFFICE COMPLEX, GOVERNORPET, VIJAYAWADA-520002. 7. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, REVENUE DEPARTBNENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMRAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT- 522237. 8. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, NTR DISTRICT AT VIJAYAWADA- 520002. 9. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, GUNTUR DISTRICT AT GUNTUR- 522001. 10. THE TAHASILDAR, THULLURU MANDAL, THULLUR, GUNTUR DISTRICT-522237. 11. THE DIRECTOR OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, IBRAHIMPATNAM, VIJAYAWADA-521456. 12. THE DISTRICT MINES AND GEOLOGY OFFICER, GUNTUR DISTRICT AT GUNTUR-522001. 13. THE DISTRICT MINES AND GEOLOGY OFFICER, NTR DISTRICT AT VIJAYAWADA-520002. 14. ANDHRA PRADESH POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD, REP. BY ITS JOINT CHIEF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER, ZONAL OFFICE, VIJAYAWADA-520008. 15. M/S KRISHNA GODAVARI WATERWAYS, INLAND MARINE CARGO WORKS, FLAT NO.102, MG RESIDENCY, 3RD LANE, SADASIVA NAGAR, GUNTUR-522007, REP.BY ITS MANAGING PARTNER. 16. THE ASSISTANT HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYOR ONWS, PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR (NW-5 AND NW-64) INLAND WATERWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA, HEAD OFFICE A-13, SECTOR-1, NOIDA, UTTAR PRADESH - 201301. R16 IS IMPLEADED AS PER C.O.DT.22.04.2026 IN IA.NO.2 OF 2026 ...RESPONDENT(S): Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to For the reasons stated in the accompanying affidavit, the petitioner herein prays that this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to issue any writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of writ of mandamus (a) declaring the action of the 16th respondent in issuing the proceedings No.IWAI/VJA(SO)/NW-4/40/Clearance/2018/313, dated 24.10.2025 as illegal, arbitrary, without jurisdiction and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India. (b) declaring the action of the respondents 3 to 14 in continuing the illegal dredging being carried on by the respondent No.15 between Ibrahimpatnam and Vykuntapuram/Harischandrapuram stretch in River Krishna (NW-4) despite of expiry of permissions, as illegal and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and also contrary to the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act (c) declaring the action of the respondents 8 to 14 in not taking any action on the petitioner's representations dated 20.11.2025 and 28.1.2026 made against the dredging of sand mining in the above stretch as illegal and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and also contrary to the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, (d) consequently, to direct the respondents 8 to 14 to prevent the 15th respondent from illegal dredging of sand in the above stretch and (e) and pass such other order or orders as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case. The Prayer is amended as per Court Order dt.22.04.2026 in I.A.No.3 of 2026. IA NO: 1 OF 2026 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to direct the respondent authorities to implement the stop order issued by the 2nd respondent-IWAI bearing No.IWAI/NW-5/NOC/2025-26, dated 7.10.2025 by preventing the respondent No.15 from illegally dredging sand between Ibrahimpatnam and Vykuntapuram/Harischandrapuram stretch in River Krishna (NW-4) and its disposal, pending disposal of the writ petition and to pass IA NO: 2 OF 2026 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased May be pleased to implead the proposed respondent No.16 in W.P.No.8390 of 2026 as respondent No.16 and pass IA NO: 3 OF 2026 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased May be pleased to permit the petitioner to amend the prayer in W.P.No.8390 of 2026 as to issue any writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of writ of mandamus: declaring the action of the 16th respondent in issuing the proceedings No. IWAIA/JA(SO)/NW-4/40/Clearance/2018/ 313, dated 24.10.2025 as illegal, arbitrary, without jurisdiction and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India, declaring the action of the respondents 3 to 14 in continuing the illegal dredging being carried on by the respondent No. 15 Vykuntapuram/ (b) andIbrahimpatnambetween Harischandrapuram stretch in River Krishna (NW-4) despite of expiry of permissions, as illegal and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and also contrary to the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act declaring the action of the respondents 8 to 14 in not taking any action on the petitioner’s representations dated 20.11.2025 and 28.1.2026 made against the dredging of sand mining in the above stretch as illegal and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and also contrary to the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, (c) consequently to direct the respondents 8 to 14 to prevent the 15th respondent from illegal dredging of sand in the above stretch and (d) and pass such other order or orders as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case, in place of (e) to issue any writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of writ of mandamus declaring inaction of the respondents 3 to 14 in continuing the illegal dredging being carried on by the Ibrahimpatnam andbetweenNo.15 respondent Vykuntapuram/Harischandrapuram stretch in River Krishna (NW- 4) despite the stop order issued by the 2nd respondent-IWAI bearing NO.IWAI/NW-5/NOC/2025-26, dated 7.10.2025 and not taking any action whatsoever by the respondent authorities on the petitioners representations dated 20.11.2025 and 28.1.2026 made therefor illegal and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and also contrary to the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act and consequently direct the respondent authorities to implement the stop order dated 7.10.2025 in its letter and spirit as and pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. J UGRANARASIMHA Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR REVENUE 2. GP FOR IRRI AND CAD 3. AMRUTHA BOPPUDI (CENTRAL GOVT COUNSEL) 4. GP FOR MINES AND GEOLOGY The Court made the following order: Sri Kochiri Rajasekhar, learned counsel representing learned counsel for the petitioner sought permission of this Court to withdraw the Writ Petition. 2. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is dismissed as withdrawn. No costs. Miscellaneous applications, pending if any, shall stand closed. ________________________ JUSTICE RAVI CHEEMALAPATI BRS