N.K.Padmanabhan v. The Union Of India
2026:MHC:461
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 05.02.2026 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE ANITA SUMANTH and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR and WMP.No.13314 of 2018 N.K.Padmanabhan .. Petitioner vs
1. The Union of India Represented by its Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests Wildlife Division, Paryavaran Bhavan, CGO Complex, New Delhi 110 003.
2. The State of Tamil Nadu Represented by its Secretary to Government, Department of Environment and Forests, Fort St. George, Chennai.
3. The Member Secretary National Tiger Conservation Authority, Annex. No. 5, Bikaner House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi 110 001.
4. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests - Wildlife Division, Panagal Maligai, Saidapet, Chennai.
5. The Collector of the Nilagiris 1/7
District, Udhagamandalam, The Nilagiri District.
6. The Chief Conservator of Forest & The Field Director, Project Tiger, The Tiger Conservation Authority, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Udhagamandalam, Nilagiri District.
7. The Deputy Director Project Tiger, The Tiger Conservation Authority, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Udhagamandalam, Nilagiri District.
8. The Settlement Officer and District Revenue Office, Gudalur Janmam Lands, Gudalur 643212 The Nilagiris.
9. The Revenue Divisional Officer Gudalor 643 212, Nilagiri District.
10.The Tahsildar Gudalur 643 212, Nilagiri District.
.. Respondents Prayer: Writ petition under article 226 of Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents herein to obey and comply with the mandates of the Honourable High Court of Madras stipulated in the judgment in Writ Petition No. 18531 of 1998 dated 19.02.2007 and not deviate from the same while relocating the petitioner residing in the Mudumalai Wildlife sanctuary and Tiger Reserve, and consequently grant such other relief as deemed fit and proper by this Honourable Court in the facts and circumstances of the case, award costs. 2/7
For Petitioner :Mr.P.V.Ravichandran For Respondents :Mr.R.Neethi Perumal Government Advocate (for R2, R4 and R7) Mr.J.Madhana Gopala Rao Senior Central Government Standing Counsel (for R1 and R6) R3 - Notice returned unserved as 'left'
ORDER
(Made by Dr. ANITA SUMANTH, J.) Read this order in continuation of and in conjunction with order dated 04.02.2026.
2. Today, Mr.Neethi Perumal circulates affidavit filed by the petitioner on 2.12.2021 that reads as follows:- "I, Mr.Padmanabhan, N.K., son of Kunjuramanchetty, a Hindu, aged about 60 years, residing at Door No.6/164A28, Nelliyampathy, Pattavayal Post, Pandalur Taluk, The Nilgiris District (ID Proof Adhar No.2230 5675 3431), do herby solemnly affirm and sincerely state as below:
1. I am the deponent herein and as such I am well aware of the facts stated herein.
2. I state that I was residing in Bennai, Nellakottai village of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and as per the rehabilitation guidelines of National Tiger Conservation Authority of India, I and my brothers and sister submitted my MOU to the concerned authorities and the same is accepted by the District Level Committee and the NTCA.
3. I also submit that during 2017, I and my siblings received land for land and compensation for the assets 3/7
owned by us we executed registered sale deed in favour of the Deputy Director, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve with our own money but subsequently we came to know that the valuation of the assets owned by us is very minimal due to lack of proper enumeration of our trees and crops.
4. Therefore, I filed a Writ Petition No.11406/2018 before the Hon'ble High Court, Madurai Bench praying for reassessing the values of the assets owned by us inside the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and the reimbursement of the registration amount.
5. I further state that subsequently the District Level Committee in its meeting held on 24.10.2018 discussed on our representation and agreed to rectify our grievances with a direction to the Sub Level Committee to furnish report.
6. I also submit that we were reimbursed the registration amount incurred by me by the District Level Committee and subsequently the Sub Level Committee reassessed the assets owned by us in Bennai and submitted the report to the District Level Committee as per the proceedings bearing No.6310/2001 dated 18.8.2021 and the same is accepted by us and the District Level Committee in its meeting held on 15.9.2021.
7. I therefore undertake and hereby agree to withdraw the pending Writ Petition No.11406/2018 before the Hon'ble High Court, Madurai Bench as the District Level Committee in the meeting held on 15.9.2021 has agreed to compensate me and my siblings.
8. I state that I am in a sound state of mind and I am executing this affidavit out of my own free will without any compulsion or coercion from anybody.
9. I declare that what I have stated above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief and nothing has been concealed therein.'
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3. Even today, as well as on the earlier occasion, the petitioner reports no instructions.
4. Mr.Neethi Perumal circulates proceedings dated 30.09.2022 quantifying the amount to be paid at a sum of Rs.3,20,536/- to the petitioner. No receipt has been produced to show that petitioner has received the said amount. However, we record the submission of Mr.Neethi Perumal to the effect that the amount has been transferred by way of RTGS.
5. Recording the aforesaid submissions, this writ petition is closed. No costs. Connected miscellaneous petition is closed. [A.S.M, J.] [M.S.K, J.] 05.02.2026 Index:Yes/No ssm To 1.The Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests Wildlife Division, Paryavaran Bhavan, CGO Complex, New Delhi 110 003.
2. The Secretary to Government, Department of Environment and Forests, Fort St. George, Chennai.
3. The Member Secretary 5/7
National Tiger Conservation Authority, Annex. No. 5, Bikaner House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi 110 001.
4. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests - Wildlife Division, Panagal Maligai, Saidapet, Chennai.
5. The Collector of the Nilgiris District, Udhagamandalam, The Nilagiri District.
6. The Chief Conservator of Forest & The Field Director, Project Tiger, The Tiger Conservation Authority, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Udhagamandalam, Nilagiri District.
7. The Deputy Director Project Tiger, The Tiger Conservation Authority, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Udhagamandalam, Nilagiri District.
8. The Settlement Officer and District Revenue Office, Gudalur Janmam Lands, Gudalur 643212 The Nilagiris.
9. The Revenue Divisional Officer Gudalor 643 212, Nilagiri District.
10. The Tahsildar Gudalur 643 212, Nilagiri District.
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DR. ANITA SUMANTH,J.
and MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR,J.
ssm and WMP.No.13314 of 2018 05.02.2026 7/7