The Hosur Municipal Laundry Association, v. The District Collector
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 19.06.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.SUNDAR and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR The Hosur Municipal Laundry Association rep. By its President A.Chowdappa having Office at Ramanayakan Lake, Salavaithurai, Denkanikottai Road, Hosur - 635 109 Krishnagiri District ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The District Collector, District Collectorate Office, Krishnagiri.
2.The Sub Collector, Sub Collectorate Office, Hosur - 635 109.
3.The Commissioner of Hosur Corporation, Hosur Corporation Office, Hosur.
4.The Tahsildar, Hosur Taluk Office, Hosur.
... Respondents Page Nos.1/10
Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of The Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents herein to consider the petitioner's representation dated 26.12.2023 to provide alternate Dhobi Ghat (Dhobi Kana) to the petitioner's Association/Dhobi Community People and to provide basic amenities like shelter, electricity, bore well etc., for the livelihood of the Dhobi Community people, within the time to be stipulated by this Court. For Petitioner :
Ms.R.Divyapreathika For Respondents :
Mr.T.K.Saravanan, Additional Government Pleader for R1, R2 and R4 Mr.T.Balaji, Standing counsel for R3
ORDER
[Order of the Court was made by M.SUNDAR, J.,] In the captioned main 'Writ Petition' (hereinafter 'WP' for the sake of brevity), Ms.R.Divyapreathika, learned counsel for writ petitioner, Mr.T.K.Saravanan, learned Additional Government Pleader for R1, R2 and R4 and Mr.T.Balaji, learned standing counsel for R3 are before us.
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2. Captioned main WP was taken up with the consent of all the aforementioned learned counsel.
3. When the captioned WP was listed before Hon'ble Predecessor Bench on 29.02.2024, the following proceedings was made: 'W.P.No.5217 of 2024 R.MAHADEVAN, J.
AND MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ, J.
(Order of the court was made by R.Mahadevan, J.) The petitioner has filed this writ petition for issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to consider the representation dated 26.12.2023 and to provide alternative Dhobi Kana and also to provide basic amenities like shelter, electricity, water connection, etc.
2. The petitioner has made a representation on 26.12.2023, which, admittedly, has not been considered till date by the respondent authorities.
3. The main grievance of learned counsel for the petitioner is that the people from the Dhobi Kana have been removed highhandedly without affording an opportunity of hearing to them.
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4. Mr.C.Kathiravan, learned Special Government Pleader, accepts notice for respondents 1, 2 and 4. Mr.T.Balaji, learned counsel, accepts notice for respondent No.3. Both learned Special Government Pleader as well as learned counsel for respondent No.3 seek a short accommodation for getting instructions in this matter.
5. At the request of learned Special Government Pleader and learned counsel for respondent No.3, adjourned to 14.03.2024.'
4. Today, this Court is informed that a meeting of revenue officials and office bearers/members of the writ petitioner Association was held in the office of R4 on 03.11.2023 at 04.00 p.m. and minutes were drawn up.
5. Learned State counsel has placed before us the notice of the aforesaid meeting and the minutes. Scanned reproduction of the same are as follows:
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6. Learned State counsel on instructions submits that though it has been recorded in the minutes that the writ petitioner Association should revert to the revenue officials with their choice of alternate sites/s on or before 06.11.2023, it is still open to the writ petitioner Association to do so and that they can do so within six weeks from today i.e., on or before 31.07.2025. If the same is done, alternative site/s identified by the writ petitioner Association will be considered for alternate Dhobi Ghat (Dhobi Kana) for the petitioner Association is learned State counsel's say.
7. Learned counsel for writ petitioner submits that primary purpose of the captioned WP is to get alternate site and it is in that context, a 'representation dated 26.12.2023' (hereinafter 'said representation' for the sake of convenience and clarity) was sent post aforereferred 06.11.2023 meeting. To be noted, captioned WP is predicated on said representation.
8. Learned counsel for writ petitioner submits that the writ petitioner Association will send a written communication to R1 identifying alternate site/s, describing the alternate site/s with clarity Page Nos.8/10
and specificity on or before 31.07.2025. Learned State counsel submits that R1 will make orders on the same within six weeks therefrom i.e., on or before 11.09.2025.
9. This Court is of the considered view that recording the stated position of the parties will suffice to give a closure to the captioned WP. We do so. Captioned WP is disposed of as closed. There shall be no order as to costs.
(M.S.,J.) (H.C.,J.) 19.06.2025 Index : Yes / No mmi To 1.The District Collector, District Collectorate Office, Krishnagiri.
2.The Sub Collector, Sub Collectorate Office, Hosur - 635 109.
3.The Commissioner of Hosur Corporation, Hosur Corporation Office, Hosur.
4.The Tahsildar, Hosur Taluk Office, Hosur.
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M.SUNDAR, J., and HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J., mmi 19.06.2025 Page Nos.10/10