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Madras High CourtWP/8759/2026disposed of

N.Ramabhatra v. The District Collector

2026-03-11Honourable Mr Justice Abdul Quddhose6 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 11-03-2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE AND WMP NO. 9427 OF 2026,WMP NO. 9428 OF 2026

1. N.Ramabhatra S/o. Late .C. Nanja Gowder, Door No.8/36, Najanadu, Udhagamandalam Taluk, The Nilgiris.

Petitioner(s) Vs

1. The District Collector The Nilgiris District, The Nilgiris, 2.Revenue Divisional Officer Udhagamandalam, The Nilgiris 3.The Special officer Nanjanad Panchayat, Block Development Officer (VP) Udhagamandalam, The Nilgiris 4.The Executive Authority /The President Nanjanad Village Panchayat, Udhagamandalam Block, The Nilgiris 5.The Revenue Inspector (I/C) Udhagamandalam Town, The Nilgiris Respondent(s) PRAYER Calling for the entire records pertaining to the notice by 3rd Respondent dated 11.02.2026 and subsequent notice dated 17.02.2026 issued by the 5th Respondent quash the same consequently direct the Respondents 1 and 3 to conduct fair enquiry as per the order dated 21.08.2025 passed in W.P. No.7813

of 2025 For Petitioner(s):

Mr.G Govarthanan For Respondent(s):

Dr.T.Seenivasan,SGP For R3 and R4

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed, challenging the impugned notice dated 11.02.2026 issued by the 3rd respondent and the subsequent notice dated 17.02.2026 issued by the 5th respondent.

2. According to the petitioner, without conducting a fair enquiry, as directed by this Court on 21.08.2025 in the earlier writ petition filed by the petitioner in W.P. No. 7813 of 2025, the 3rd respondent as well as the 5th respondent have issued the impugned notices.

3. Admittedly, the impugned notices are stop-work notices issued to the petitioner. The learned counsel for the petitioner, on instructions, would also submit that the petitioner has stopped proceeding with the construction. Therefore, the question of interfering with the impugned notices dated 11.02.2026 and 17.02.2026 does not arise.

4. The grievance of the petitioner in this writ petition is that with regard to the proceedings for the cancellation of the building plan granted to the petitioner earlier, necessarily, the respondents will have to conduct a proper enquiry in compliance with the directions issued by this Court in the earlier writ

petition in W.P. No. 7813 of 2025. In the said writ petition, in paragraph Nos.11 and 12 of the order dated 21.08.2025, this Court has observed as follows: "11. This Court directs the third respondent to conduct a detailed enquiry after giving due notice to the petitioner as well as to the general public/interested parties who raised the complaint and to file a report before the first respondent within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

12. This Court further directs the first respondent to consider the petitioner's representation dated 03.02.2025, after giving due notice to the petitioner as well as interested parties, opportunity of personal hearing and to consider the documents submitted by the petitioner and other parties, on merits, and in accordance with law, and pass appropriate orders within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of the enquiry report submitted by the third respondent."

5. Necessarily, the respondents will have to abide by the aforesaid directions issued by this Court on 21.08.2025 in the earlier writ petition filed by the petitioner in W.P. No. 7813 of 2025.

6. This Court, after making it clear that the respondents will have to adhere by the directions issued by this Court on 21.08.2025 in W.P. No.7813 of 2025, is not interfering with the impugned notices dated 11.02.2026 and 17.02.2026 since the petitioner himself has stated before this Court through his

counsel that the petitioner has stopped construction in the property, which is the subject matter of the impugned notices.

7. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 11-03-2026 Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes ab

To 1.The District Collector The Nilgiris District, The Nilgiris, 2.Revenue Divisional Officer Udhagamandalam, The Nilgiris 3.The Special officer Nanjanad Panchayat, Block Development Officer (VP) Udhagamandalam, The Nilgiris 4.The Executive Authority /The President Nanjanad Village Panchayat, Udhagamandalam Block, The Nilgiris 5.The Revenue Inspector (I/C) Udhagamandalam Town, The Nilgiris

ABDUL QUDDHOSE J.

ab AND WMP NO. 9427 OF 2026,WMP NO. 9428 OF 2026 11-03-2026