V.Thangamani v. The District Collector

2026:MHC:1047

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 11-03-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S. M. SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE K. SURENDER and WMP No. 12187 of 2022

1. V.Thangamani S/o. Venkatesan, No.2A, Gangaiamman Koil street, Melayyampettai Village, Kalambur post, Aliyabath Madura, Polur Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District

2. G.Perumal S/o. Ganesan, No. 5/1, Gangaiamman Koil street, Melayyampettai Village, Kalambur post, Aliyabath Madura, Polur Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District

3. C.Kuttiyappan S/o. Chinnaraj, No.11, Gangaiamman Koil street, Melayyampettai Village, Kalambur post, Aliyabath Madura, Polur Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District

4. M.Palaniyandi S/o. Munusami, No.8, Gangaiamman Koil street, Melayyampettai Village, Kalambur post, Aliyabath Madura, Polur Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District

5. P.Balaraman S/o. Pakkali, No.11, Gangaiamman Koil street, Melayyampettai Village, Kalambur post, Aliyabath Madura, Polur Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District

6. R.Ganesan S/o. Renu Gounder, No. 16, Gangaiamman Koil street, Melayyampettai Village, Kalambur

post, Aliyabath Madura, Polur Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District

7. K.Manoharan S/o. Kuppan, No.11, Gangaiamman Koil street, Melayyampettai Village, Kalambur post, Aliyabath Madura, Polur Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District

8. R.Kasiyammal W/o. Rajagopal, No.4, Gangaiamman Koil street, Melayyampettai Village, Kalambur post, Aliyabath Madura, Polur Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District

9. K.Govindasami S/o. Kannan,No.11, Gangaiamman Koil street, Melayyampettai Village, Kalambur post, Aliyabath Madura, Polur Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District ..Petitioner(s) Vs

1. The District Collector Thiruvannamalai District, Thiruvannamalai.

2. The Revenue Divisional Officer Arni, Thiruvannamalai District

3. The Tahsildar Polur, Thiruvannamalai District

4. The Executive Officer Selection Grade Town Panchayat, Kalambur 606 903, Thiruvannamalai District

5. J.Rajkumar S/o. K.Jegadeesan, No.28/1, Road Street, Mel Ayyambettai (Aliyabath Village) Kalambur post 606 903, Polur Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District ..Respondent(s) To call for records on the file of the impugned order passed by the 4th respondent herein vide his proceedings in Na.Ka.No. 11/2011 dated

27.04.2022 and quash the same is arbitrary, unreasonable, being violative of rules and principles of natural justice For Petitioner(s):

Mr,.A.R.Suresh For Respondent(s):

Mr.T.Arunkumar, Addl.G.P. for R1 to R4 Mr.G.Sai Narayanavasan for Mr.V.R.Appaswamee for R5

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by S.M.Subramaniam J.) The notice dated 27.04.2022 issued by the Executive Officer, Kalampur Town Panchayat is under challenge in the present writ proceedings.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the authority has not mentioned under which provision of law, the impugned notice has been issued.

3. Learned Additional Government Pleader would submit that by stating wrong quoting or misquoting of provision would not vitiate the notice and since the Executive Officer of Town Panchayat had issued the impugned notice, it is under Section 128 of the TamilNadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998.

4. Section 128(1)(b) of the Act enumerates that the Commissioner may remove any immovable structure whether the permanent or of temporary nature encroaching the streets or public place or the land vested with the Municipality within the municipal limit, after issuing a show cause notice for such removal within 7 days from the date of receipt thereon. Therefore, 7 days time is granted either to vacate the encroached portion by the encroachers or to submit an explanation along wit the documents, if any, to the authority for

consideration. In the event of not submitting any explanation, the Executive Officer is empowered to proceed with the enforcement action and remove the encroacher. If any explanation is submitted by the encroachers, then it is to be considered by the competent authority and thereafter, the decision is to be taken for removing the encroachments. This being the scope of Section 128 of the Act, the petitioner herein is at liberty to submit his explanation along with the documents, if any, within a period of 10 days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. On receipt of such representation, the 4th respondent shall consider the same and take a final decision thereafter and proceed with the enforcement action for removing the encroachments and to resume the public property. Such exercise is directed to be completed within a period of 12 weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order.

5. Accordingly, the Writ petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

(S.M.S.,J.) (K.S.,J.) 11-03-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order VSI To

1. The District Collector Thiruvannamalai District, Thiruvannamalai

2. The Revenue Divisional Officer Arni, Thiruvannamalai District

3. The Tahsildar Polur, Thiruvannamalai District

4. The executive Officer Selection Grade Town Panchayat, Kalambur 606 903, Thiruvannamalai District

S.M.SUBRAMANIAM J.

AND K.SURENDER J.

vsi and WMP No. 12187 of 2022 11-03-2026