K.Balamurugan v. The District Collector
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 05-03-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ WP No. 9065 of 2026 and WMP No.9792 of 2026 K.Balamurugan ..Petitioner Vs
1. The District Collector, Chengalapttu District.
2. Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC), Represented by its Managing Director, Thalamuthu Nadarajan Building, Gandhi Irwin Road, Egmore, Chennai 600 008.
3. The District Manager, Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC), Kanchipuram North, Thirumazhisai Unit-3, Chembarambakkam, Chennai 123.
..Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to reopen the TASMAC shop No.4085 and the Bar attached with the TASMAC shop no. 4085 at No 2/8, Indu colon, M.G.R. Road, Nanaganallur, Chennai-600 061.
For Petitioner :
Mr.M.Manimaran For Respondents:
Mr.Yogesh Kannadasan, Special Government Pleader for R1 Mr.K.Balakrishnan, Standing Counsel for R2 & R3
ORDER
The present writ petition has been filed praying for a writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondents to reopen the TASMAC shop No.4085 and the bar attached with the TASMAC shop No.4085 situated at No.2/8, Indu Colon, M.G.R. Road, Nanganallur, Chennai.
2. Brief facts:
2.1. The petitioner has been running a bar attached to the TASMAC shop No.4085 for over 25 years and has been selling eatables and collecting empty bottles. Petitioner participated in public auction conducted by third respondent to run a bar attached to the said TASMAC shop for the period 13.12.2023 to 31.12.2025. Petitioner happened to be the highest bidder and the first respondent granted bar license to the petitioner vide Na.Ka.No.787/A3/2023 dated 18.12.2023. Thereafter, on two occasions, there was threat of closure of
the bar and petitioner approached this Court in W.P.Nos.10170 and 30292 of 2024 and this Court vide orders dated 17.04.2024 and 05.11.2024, after recording the statement made by the learned Standing counsel for TASMAC that they have no proposal to re-locate or shift the TASMAC shop bearing No.4085, disposed the writ petitions. TASMAC shop was closed on 01.03.2026. Hence, petitioner has filed the present writ petition.
3. Learned counsel for petitioner would reiterate the submission which has been made on the earlier occasion before this Court that the petitioner had made a deposit and he has also expended considerably in setting up the bar and would thus submit that the closure of the bar without putting the petitioner on notice is unjust and illegal.
4. To the contrary, Mr.Yogesh, learned Special Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the first respondent would submit that the petitioner's license expired on 31.12.2025 and he would have no right whatsoever to insist that the TAMAC shop No.4085 would have to continue to run. He would also draw the attention of this Court to the license conditions, more particularly, Condition No.2 to buttress the argument that the closure of TASMAC shop is a matter of policy decision and the petitioner need not be put on notice before the closure of TASMAC shop.
5. At this juncture, the learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the second respondent has issued a Communication dated 05.01.2026, wherein it is stated that the licence/permission for selling eatables and collection of empty bottles in places adjoining TASMAC Retail Vending shops, which expires on 31.12.2025, has been extended by a further period of six months i.e., upto 30.06.2026.
6. The learned Special Government Pleader for first respondent and learned Standing Counsel for second and third respondent, would submit that the petitioner may submit a representation and the same would be considered and appropriate orders would be passed by the third respondent, in accordance with law, within a time frame to be fixed by this Court
7. Heard the counsels and perused the materials available on record.
8. In view of the limited relief that is prayed, this court is inclined to dispose of the writ petition with following directions: i) It is open to the petitioner to submit a representation before the third respondent.
ii) If any such representation is submitted by the petitioner, the third respondent shall consider the same and pass orders, within a period of two
weeks from the date of filing of any such application.
9. Accordingly, the writ petition stands disposed of. There will be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 05-03-2026 MRN
1. The District Collector, Chengalapttu District.
2. The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC), Thalamuthu Nadrajan Building, Gandhi irwin Road, Egmore, Chennai 600 008
3. The District Manager Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC), Kanchipurm North, Thirumazhisai Unit-3 Chembarambakkam, Chennai 123.
MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ, J.
MRN WP No. 9065 of 2026 05-03-2026