Sri Venkatachalapathy v. The District Collector

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 25.03.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI And W.M.P.Nos.20401 of 2025 and 9894 & 9888 of 2026 SRI VENKATACHALAPATHY & CO BLUE METALS, REPRESENTED BY IT'S PARTNER MR.RATHINAVEL NO.3/92-3, MALLAPURAM, SOMENAHALLI POST, NALLAMPALLI TALUK, DHARMAPURI DISTRICT.

... Petitioner Vs.

1 THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, DHARMAPURI DISTRICT, DHARMAPURI.

2 THE DISTRICT FOREST OFFICER, DHARMAPURI DISTRICT, DHARMAPURI.

3 THE FOREST RANGE OFFICER, DHARMAPURI DISTRICT, DHARMAPURI.

... Respondents Prayer:

Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Prohibition for prohibiting the respondents from in any 1/5

manner preventing free vehicular movement and access to the petitioner's property situated in survey Nos.523, 534, 535/2, 535/1, 536/2, 521/C1, 522/1, 536/1 and 543 total to an extend of 6.06 Hectares situated at Nathahalli Village, Nallampalli Taluk, Dharmapuri District, through the road connecting State High Way running from Indore to Nagarkoodal.

For Petitioner : Mr.K.Krishnan for M/s.L.Karthiga For Respondents : Mr.Stalin Abhimanyu for R1 Additional Government Pleader Mr.M.Suresh Kumar for R2 and R3 Additional Advocate General Assisted By Mr.Dr.T.Seenivasan Special Government Pleader

O R D E R

The petitioner has filed this writ petition seeking issuance of Writ of Prohibition for prohibiting the respondents from in any manner preventing free vehicular movement and access to the petitioner's property situated in survey Nos.523, 534, 535/2, 535/1, 536/2, 521/C1, 522/1, 536/1 and 543 total to an extent of 6.06 Hectares situated at Nathahalli Village, Nallampalli Taluk, Dharmapuri District, 2/5

through the road connecting State High Way running from Indore to Nagarkoodal.

2.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is a licensed quarry operator in the subject lands which are patta lands and in and around the said lands, there are reserve forest lands and the said forest land was used as a way to reach the subject lands and abruptly, the same was stopped by the respondents.

3.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner further submitted that this Court may without going into the merits of the case, grant liberty to the petitioner to approach the Forest Settlement Officer or competent civil Court for appropriate remedy. 4.Considering the limited relief now sought for by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, this Court, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, grants liberty to the petitioner to approach the Forest Settlement Officer or competent civil Court for appropriate remedy.

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5.The writ petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 25.03.2026 pri Index: Yes/ No Speaking Order: Yes/ No NCC: Yes/ No To 1 THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, DHARMAPURI DISTRICT, DHARMAPURI.

2 THE DISTRICT FOREST OFFICER, DHARMAPURI DISTRICT, DHARMAPURI.

3 THE FOREST RANGE OFFICER, DHARMAPURI DISTRICT, DHARMAPURI.

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M.DHANDAPANI,J.

pri And W.M.P.Nos.20401 of 2025 and 9894 & 9888 of 2026 25.03.2026 5/5