Alagappan @ Muniappan v. The Station House Officer

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 22-06-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M. NIRMAL KUMAR

1. Alagappan @ Muniappan

2. Poovazhagan ..Petitioner(s) Vs

1. The Station House Officer Devandhiri Nagar Police Station, Puducherry 605 006.

2. Devanayagi ..Respondent(s) To direct the 1st Respondent not to harass them and not to interfere with the construction of building in his absolute Plot Nos. 8, 9 and 10 in the land bearing R.S. No.65/3D and Patta No. 5559 situated in Pakkamudiyanpet Puducherry as per the Building Permission granted by the Pondicherry Planning Authority based on the Complaint dated 12-05-2025 on the file of the 2nd Respondent and render justice.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr.T.P.Manoharan, Senior Counsel for M/S.T.M.Naveen For Respondent(s):

Mr.M.V.Ramachandra Murthy, Public Prosecutor, For R1

ORDER

This Criminal Original Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the first respondent not to harass the petitioners.

2. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that, on a complaint of the second respondent, the respondent Police have been unnecessarily harassed the petitioners, including by calling them at odd hours.

3. The learned Public Prosecutor (Puducherry) appearing for the first respondent, on instructions from the first respondent, submitted that an enquiry was conducted on the complaint of the second respondent. During enquiry, it was found that both the parties, the petitioner as well as the second respondent, had been repeatedly approaching the Police authorities, submitting complaint after complaint relating to a same civil property matter. The repeated complaints to the Police appear to be motivated primarily on personal grievance rather than genuine criminal conduct. Both parties have, in effect, been using the Police as a means of harassment and to gain advantage in the civil dispute, causing unnecessary strain on law enforcement resources. Hence, both the parties were advised to approach the civil forum for proper remedy.

4. Recording the submissions of the learned Public Prosecutor (Puducherry), this Court is of the view that the dispute between the parties is essentially civil in nature. Therefore, both parties are directed to approach the competent Civil Court for appropriate relief and shall refrain from misusing the police machinery in connection with the said civil dispute.

5. With the above observations, this Criminal Original Petition is disposed of.

22-06-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order PVS To

1. The Station House Officer Devandhiri Nagar Police Station, Puducherry 605 006.

2. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

M.NIRMAL KUMAR, J.

PVS 22-06-2026