Century Neon Signs, v. Executive Engineer, Town Planning Section Kodambakkam,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 08-04-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE WP Nos. 12983, 12986, 12989, 12990, 12993, 12995, 12996, 13000, 13001, 13017 & 13019 of 2026 AND WMP Nos. 14268, 14240, 14237, 14228, 14221, 14218, 14232, 14229, 14215, 14211, 14222, 14216, 14224, 14210, 14231, 14233, 14234, 14262, 14242, 14239, 14267 & 14263 of 2026 Century Neon Signs, Represented by its proprietor, Mr. P.
Subramanian, No 6 (old No 37) Arcot Road, Vadapalani, Chennai 600 026.
..Petitioner in W.P.No.12983/2026 Abirami Enterprises Rep by O.V. Krishnan No.6 (Old No.37) Arcot Road, Vadapalani, Chennai- 600 026.
..Petitioner in W.P.No.12996/2026 Vijay Dresses Represented by its proprietor, A.B.Vijaykumar No 6 (old No 37) Arcot Road, Vadapalani, Chennai 600 026 ..Petitioner in W.P.No.12989/2026 Venkatramana Meals Rep by B.Subramaniam No.6 (Old No.37) Arcot Road, Vadapalani, Chennai- 600 026.
..Petitioner in W.P.No.13001/2026
Best Walk Represented by its proprietor, M.Fousul Hinaya, No. 6 (old No 37) Arcot Road, Vadapalani, Chennai 600 026 ..Petitioner in W.P.No.12995/2026 Sree Parameshwari Enterprises Rep. by Partner M.R.Kumar, No 6 (old No 37) Arcot Road, Vadapalani, Chennai 600 026 ..Petitioner in W.P.No.13017/2026 Rekha Sweets Rep. by its Power Attorney, Govindasamy, No 69 (Old No 37) Arcot Road, Vadapalani, Chennai 600 026 ..Petitioner in W.P.No.12990/2026 Manju Lakshmi Associates Rep. by its partner S.Balasubramanian, No. 6 (old No 37) Arcot Road, Vadapalani, Chennai 600 026 ..Petitioner in W.P.No.13000/2026 Ikon Sofa Rep. by Partner Malik Mohammed, No 6 (old No 37) Arcot Road, Vadapalani, Chennai 600 026 ..Petitioner in W.P.No.13019/2026 New Bangalore Iyengar Rep by Proprietor V.Perumal Raj No.6 (Old No.37) Arcot Road, Vadapalani, Chennai-600 026.
..Petitioner in W.P.No.12993/2026
Global Clinical Lab Represented by its proprietor, B Thangaraj, No 69 (Old No 37) Arcot Road, Vadapalani, Chennai 600 026 ..Petitioner in W.P.No.12986/2026 Vs
1. Executive Engineer, Town Planning Section Kodambakkam, Greater Chennai Corporation, No 64, NSK Salai Kodambakkam, Chennai 600 024.
2. Doshi Constructions a partnership firm Registered, Under the Indian partnership Act, Having its registered office at No 3H, Century Plaza, No 560, Teynampet, Chennai 600 018, Represented by its partner Mr. Mehul H. Doshi. ..Respondents in all W.Ps.
COMMON PRAYER - These Writ Petitions are filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a Writ of Certiorarifed Mandamus, calling for the records relating to the Demolition Permission Ref. No. DA / WDCN10/ 00917 / 2025 dated 30.10.2025 issued by the Executive Engineer, Town Planning Section- Kodambakkam of the Greater Chennai corporation and quash the same and thereby forbear the Respondents form, in any manner, proceeding with demolition of the portions in occupation of the petitioners and its adjacent structures pending adjudication of C.S. No 574 of 2010.
For Petitioner(s) in WP Nos.12990, 13019, 12993 of 2026:
Mr.S.R.Rajagopal, Senior Counsel for Mr.Aditya Sarangarajan For Petitioner(s) in WP Nos.12986 of 2026:
Mr.S.R.Rajagopal, Senior Counsel for Mr.A.K.Samy For Petitioner(s) in WP Nos.12983, 12989, 13001 of 2026:
Mr.S.R.Rajagopal, Senior Counsel for Mr.P.Giridari For Petitioner(s) in WP Nos.12996, 12995, 13000, 13017 of 2026:
Mr.S.R.Rajagopal, Senior Counsel for Mr.Varun Srinivas For R1:
Mr.S.Santhosh (For R1) Mr.R.Parthasarathy, Senior Counsel, For R2 Assisted by Akshaya Ramadurai, Darsini Priya G.P for Rahul Balaji C O M M O N O R D E R These Writ Petitions are identical to the facts of W.P.No.7841 of 2026 filed by the S.R.P. Enterprises, against the very same respondents. These Writ Petitioners are all sub tenants as is the case of S.R.P. Enterprises, who had earlier filed a Writ Petition in W.P.No.7841 of 2026, seeking to protect their interest over the property.
2.This Court disposed of W.P.No.7841 of 2026 by an order dated 09.03.2026, by issuing the following directions: "(a) The second respondent shall not disturb and interfere with the petitioner's peaceful possession and enjoyment of their property under occupation as a sub-tenant. (b) The second respondent shall not disturb the free ingress and egress of the petitioner or their employees to reach their property under occupation as a sub-tenant. (c) In case of any violation, the petitioner is at liberty to approach the appropriate legal forum to adjudicate their rights.
(d) The second respondent shall not cause any hindrance to the amenities that have been so far enjoyed by the petitioner.
(e) Since the Civil Suit is pending with regard to the subject matter of the dispute, the order passed in this Writ Petition will not have any bearing in the Civil Suit." 3.In addition to the aforementioned directions, the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners in these Writ Petitions would submit that the common wall found in the subject building complex for which demolition sanction has been obtained should not be demolished as it will affect the ingress
and egress of the respective petitioners in these Writ Petitions to the respective properties.
4.Learned Senior Counsel appearing for the 2nd respondent, on instructions, would submit that the 2nd respondent shall not demolish the common wall found in the subject building complex till the disposal of the suit. 5.Learned Senior Counsel for the petitioners is satisfied with the undertaking given by the 2nd respondent through the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the 2nd respondent.
6.The learned Senior Counsel for the 2nd respondent would also submit that the 2nd respondent will have to be protected from interference by any of these petitioners or their men, with regard to other portions of the building complex, which is being demolished by the 2nd respondent pursuant to the grant of the impugned demolition sanction. The protection sought for by the petitioners will have to be granted as it will not prejudice to the interest of the respective petitioners in these Writ Petitions.
7.After hearing the respective submissions, this Court, in addition to the earlier directions issued by this Court in W.P.No.7841 of 2026 on 09.03.2026, issues the additional directions:
(a) The 2nd respondent shall not demolish the common walls adjoining the buildings occupied by the respective petitioners till the disposal of the suit in C.S.No.574 of 2010. (b)The respective petitioners shall not interfere with the free ingress and egress of the 2nd respondent and its men in respect of other portions of the building/vacant land, which are not the subject matter of these Writ Petitions.
8.With the aforesaid direction, these Writ Petitions are disposed of. However, there shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.
08-04-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order GSA
ABDUL QUDDHOSE J.
GSA To Executive Engineer, Town Planning Section Kodambakkam, Greater Chennai Corporation, No 64, NSK Salai Kodambakkam, Chennai 600 024.
WP Nos. 12983, 12986, 12989, 12990, 12993, 12995, 12996, 13000, 13001, 13017 & 13019 of 2026 AND WMP Nos. 14268, 14240, 14237, 14228, 14221, 14218, 14232, 14229, 14215, 14211, 14222, 14216, 14224, 14210, 14231, 14233, 14234, 14262, 14242, 14239, 14267 & 14263 OF 2026 08-04-2026