K.R.Sethuraman v. The District Collector
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 31.07.2025
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SUNDER MOHAN K.R.Sethuraman : Petitioner versus 1.The District Collector, Thiruvallur District, Thiruvallur 2.The Chief Engineer (WRO) Water Resources Organization, PWD Estate, Kamarajar Salai, Chepauk, Chennai 600 005 3.The Divisional Engineer, Tamil Nadu Road Infrastructure Development Corporation 4th Floor, LLA Building, No.735, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002 4.The Project Director, Chennai Peripheral Ring Road Project, HRS Campus, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai 600 025 5.The Project Director Chennai Peripheral Ring Road Project,
Kannigaipair, Thiruvallur 6.The Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Thiruvallur District : Respondents Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the impugned communication of the 3rd respondent dated 30.08.2024 in Letter No.Tha.Na.Sa.U.Me.Ka/Se.Ea.Sha.thi/U.Tho.Mu/ 2024 and to quash the same, consequently direct the respondents to modify the structure of the bridge to erect pillars in the entire lake portion of the bridge enabling to free flow of the matter to the month of the lake without dumping the soil and stones by obstructing the mouth of the Kannigaiper Lake within the time stipulated. For Petitioner :
Mr.C.Prabakaran For Respondents :
Mr.K.Karthik Jagannath, Government Advocate
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) The following prayer is made in the writ petition: "Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the impugned communication of the third respondent dated 30.08.2024 in Letter No.Tha.Na.Sa.U.Me.Ka/Se.Ea.Sha.thi/U.Tho.Mu/ 2024
and to quash the same, consequently direct the respondents to modify the structure of the bridge to erect pillars in the entire lake portion of the bridge enabling free flow of the matter to the mouth of the lake without dumping the soil and stones by obstructing the mouth of the Kannigaiper Lake within the time stipulated."
2. We are afraid, such a prayer cannot be allowed by this Court by exercising jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. Issues like modifying the structure of the bridge while erecting pillars and other structures are essentially a matter of consideration for engineers and experts, and Courts have no expertise in that.
3. The petition is entirely misconceived. Therefore the petition stands dismissed. There will be no order as to costs. Consequently, WMP Nos.29719, 29721 of 2025 are closed.
(MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CJ.) (SUNDER MOHAN, J.) 31.07.2025 Index : Yes/No tar
To 1.The District Collector, Thiruvallur District, Thiruvallur 2.The Chief Engineer (WRO) Water Resources Organization, PWD Estate, Kamarajar Salai, Chepauk, Chennai 600 005 3.The Divisional Engineer, Tamil Nadu Road Infrastructure Development Corporation 4th Floor, LLA Building, No.735, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002 4.The Project Director, Chennai Peripheral Ring Road Project, HRS Campus, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai 600 025 5.The Project Director Chennai Peripheral Ring Road Project, Kannigaipair, Thiruvallur 6.The Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Thiruvallur District
THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND SUNDER MOHAN , J.
(tar) 31.07.2025