A.Appapillai v. The District Collector
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 10.02.2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY and W.M.P. No.3925 of 2026 1.A.Appapillai 2.R.Thirugnanam 3.Mari .. Petitioners vs 1.The District Collector, 2.The District Revenue Officer and CALA - Morappur to Dharmapuri, New Broad Gauge Railway Line, Dharmapuri.
3.The Tahsildar, Dharmapuri Taluk, 4.The General Manager, Southern Railway, Park Town, Chennai - 600 003.
5.The Divisional Railway Manager, East Railway Colony, Suramangalam, Salem - 636 005.
.. Respondents Petition filed under Article 226 of The Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a writ of mandamus to forbear the respondents from proposing any railway station in the residential 1/4
habitation lands comprised in S.Nos.119/94, 147/25 and 240 situated at Mookanoor Village, Dharmapuri District and consequently direct the respondents to adhere to their original proposal of laying the railway station 600 metres away from the habitation site of Mookanoor Village, Dharmapuri District. For Petitioners :
Mr.E.Manoharan for Mr.G.Vignesh For Respondents :
Mr.P.Sathish, Additional Government Pleader for R1 to R3 Ms.V.Sudha for R4 and R5
ORDER
Asserting that the second respondent has deviated from the Notification issued under Section 3(1) of the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Land for Industrial Purposes Act, 1997 in issuing summons for acquisition of land not covered under the Notification, the present writ petition has been filed to forbear such acquisition.
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner would be satisfied at this juncture if provided a reasonable opportunity to raise objections before the District Revenue Officer.
3.Mr.P.Sathish, learned Additional Government Pleader, accepts notice for respondents 1 to 3 and Ms.V.Sudha, learned 2/4
standing counsel, accepts notice for respondents 4 and 5. Learned Additional Government Pleader submits that an enquiry would be conducted after issuing notice to the petitioners and respondents 4 and 5 herein.
4. Considering the above submissions, this writ petition is disposed of by directing the second respondent to hold an enquiry in relation to the petitioners' objections after putting the fourth and fifth respondents on notice. The petitioners are permitted to be represented by a counsel in course of such enquiry. A speaking order shall be issued upon conclusion of such enquiry within two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. There shall be no order as to costs.
10.02.2026 Index:Yes/No mmi To 1.The District Collector, 2.The District Revenue Officer and CALA - Morappur to Dharmapuri, New Broad Gauge Railway Line, Dharmapuri.
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SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY,J.
mmi 3.The Tahsildar, Dharmapuri Taluk, 4.The General Manager, Southern Railway, Park Town, Chennai - 600 003.
5.The Divisional Railway Manager, East Railway Colony, Suramangalam, Salem - 636 005.
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