S.Bhavani v. The District Revenue Officer
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 13-03-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI W.P.No. 9667 of 2026 S.Bhavani W/o. Sundaramurthy, Old No.6/44, New No.400, Veerakovil Street, Kilarasampattu Village, Vellore District-632 312
...Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. The District Revenue Officer Vellore District, A Block, 2nd Floor, Vellore Collectorate, Sathuvacheri, Vellore-632009
2. The Tahsildar Vellore Taluk, Taluk office, Arani Road, Velapadi, Vellore-632 001
3. The Chief General Manager Indian Oil Bhawan - Tamil Nadu State Office, Indian oil Corporation Ltd., No.139 Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai -34
4. The Joint Controller of Explosives Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), Shastri Bhavan, Block 1-8, Wing A and D, Nungambakkam, Chennai-6.
5. Mrs.Ambika W/o. Sivakumar, Kollaimedu, Pachiyamman Koil Street, Kilarasampattu Village, Vellore District 632 312
...Respondent(s)
Prayer Petition filed under Article 226 of The Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to take appropriate action on representation dated 24.12.2025 in granting permission for installation of petrol pump in Survey No.153/3A Kilarasampattu Village, Vellore District adhering to the regulations. For Petitioner(s):
M/s.R.Thanigai Arasu For Respondent(s):
Mr.S.Rajesh, Government Advocate for RR-1 & 2 Mr.Navod Prasannan, Standing Counsel for R-3 Mr.Ravi Meenakshi Sundaram, Senior Panel Counsel for R-4
ORDER
This is a petition filed by the petitioner seeking a direction to the respondents to take appropriate action on her representation dated 24.12.2025 to reconsider the decision of allowing installation of a petrol pump in the land adjoining the irrigation canal in survey No.153/3A, Kilarasampattu Village at Vellore Amirthi Naganathi Road pursuant to the permission granted to the fifth respondent to install a petrol pump.
2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Government Advocate accepting notice for respondents 1 and 2, the learned Standing Counsel accepting notice for the third respondent and the learned Senior Panel Counsel accepting notice for the fourth respondent. In view of the limited nature of relief that is proposed to be granted by this Court, the writ petition itself is taken up for final disposal without ordering notice to the fifth respondent.
3. The case of the petitioner is as follows:
(a) The petitioner claims to be the owner of agricultural lands in survey Nos.155/1, 155/2, 155/4, 159/3 and 161/3 at Kilarasampattu Village. In the said lands, she is cultivating crops by using a 10 feet wide irrigation canal in survey No.160. The said canal passes through the petitioner's lands as well as the land in survey No.153/3A. In the recent past, the fifth respondent started constructing a compound wall in survey No.153/3A adjoining the irrigation canal and on inquiry, the petitioner came to know that the fifth respondent was given permission by the third respondent to install an Indian oil petrol pump. This is in violation of the norms prescribed as the petrol pump should be located minimum 30 meters away from water bodies.
(b) However, the petrol pump is being installed within 11 meters from the irrigation canal and 25 meters from the lake. The petrol pump is proposed to be installed near a bus stop, which is located directly opposite to the intersection of Vellore Amirthi and Naganathi Roads. If the petrol pump is installed, it will endanger the existence of the canal and the lives
of the public using the road. Pursuant to that, the petitioner sent individual representations dated 24.12.2025 to respondents 1, 3 and 4 to reconsider the decision of installing the petrol pump. As it did not evoke any response, the petitioner is before this Court.
4. Considering the facts and circumstances and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to respondents 1, 3 and 4 to consider the petitioner's representation dated 24.12.2025 on merits and pass appropriate orders thereon in accordance with law within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs. 13-03-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Nhs
M.DHANDAPANI, J.
NHS To
1. The District Revenue Officer Vellore District, A Block, 2nd Floor, Vellore Collectorate, Sathuvacheri, Vellore-632009
2. The Tahsildar, Vellore Taluk, Taluk office, Arani Road, Velapadi, Vellore-632 001
3. The Chief General Manager Indian Oil Bhawan- Tamil Nadu State Office, Indian oil Corporation Ltd., No.139 Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai-34
4. The Joint Controller of Explosives Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), Shastri Bhavan, Block 1-8, Wing A and D, Nungambakkam, Chennai-6 W.P.No. 9667 of 2026 13-03-2026