C.Baskaran v. District Collector

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 18.12.2025 CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR. MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN and W.M.P.No.31510 of 2025 C.Baskaran S/o. Chellappan, No.4/38, Bajanai Koil Street, Siruniam Village, Sholavaram Post, Chennai-600 067, Tiruvallur District.

Petitioner Vs 1.The District Collector Tiruvallur District, Collectorate, Tiruvallur -602001 2.The Revenue Divisional Officer Railway Station Road, Ponneri -601 204 3.The Block Development Officer Sholavaram Union, Sholavaram, Chennai-600 067 4.The Tahsildar Taluk Office, Sholavaram, Puzhal, Chennai-600 067

5.The Parish Priest, St. Mary Magadaline Church, No.1, Redhills By-Pass, Redhills, Chennai - 600 052, Thirvallure District.

[Respondent No.5 impleaded as per the order dated 2.9.2025 made in WMP No.36518/2025] Respondents PRAYER : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the 3rd respondent to consider the petitioner's representation dated 24.06.2025, not to issue license/certificate for the Christian Graveyard in Survey No.32/1B, at Siruniam Village, Aangadu Panchayat, Sholavaram Panchayat Union and convert a part of the existing Hindu Burial and Cremation Ground in Survey No.31/4, as way path for the new Christian graveyard in the said village.

For Petitioner:

Mr.M.L.Ravi For Respondent:

Mr.E.Vijay Anand Addl. Government Pleader for respondent Nos.1 to 4 Dr.Father Xavier Arul Raj Senior Counsel for respondent No.5

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) Heard learned counsel for the parties.

2. This petition has been filed seeking issuance of a mandamus prohibiting the respondent authorities from proceeding further in the matter of grant of permission to access the Christian burial ground through the Hindu burial ground.

3. Learned State counsel would submit that even before filing of this public interest litigation, the District Collector had passed an order on 01.07.2025 granting such permission. However, that order has been challenged by filing W.P.No.43957 of 2025 [B.Varadharajan v. District Collector, Tiruvallur District, Collectorate, Tiruvallur and others], wherein an interim order has also been passed.

4. In that view of the matter, we are not inclined to keep this petition pending. The petition is disposed of giving liberty to the petitioner to seek intervention, if so advised, in the pending writ petition. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected

miscellaneous petition is closed.

(MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CJ) (G.ARUL MURUGAN,J) 18.12.2025 Index :

Yes/No :

Yes/No bbr To:

1.The District Collector Tiruvallur District, Collectorate, Tiruvallur -602001 2.The Revenue Divisional Officer Railway Station Road, Ponneri -601 204 3.The Block Development Officer Sholavaram Union, Sholavaram, Chennai-600 067 4.The Tahsildar Taluk Office, Sholavaram, Puzhal, Chennai-600 067

THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND G.ARUL MURUGAN,J.

bbr 18.12.2025