Sarootham Padmanabhan v. The State Of Tamil Nadu

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 05.12.2025 CORAM :

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE N. SATHISH KUMAR AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D. BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY W.P.Nos.26182, 33129 of 2023 1492, 1637, 1777, 1945, 2667, 2815, 3941, 4448, 6779, 7444, 8326, 12687, 23499, 23502, 23521, 23526, 23528, 23532, 23536, 24928, 27450, 28073, 28505, 28995, 33012, 34953, 34956, 34960, 34964, 34969, 35966, 25371, 25395, 25398, 25405, 25412, 25414, 25457, 25464, 28949, 22933, 27924 of 2024 1652, 18143, 9790, 23478, 25501, 27892, 29658, 30075 of 2025 and W.M.P.Nos.38280 of 2023 1510, 1670, 1829, 2055, 2944, 3074, 4246, 4804, 7554, 8325, 8326, 9284, 13840, 13842, 25690, 25720, 25694, 25729, 27549, 25736, 29550, 25739, 29543, 25742, 25757, 25746, 27271, 29950, 30623, 31078, 31079, 31649, 31651, 35793, 37906, 37907, 37909, 37908, 37915, 37916, 37919, 37920, 37924, 37926, 38848, 38851, 27732, 27762, 27766, 27774, 27784, 27785, 27818, 27827, 31598, 24987, 24985, 30452, 30456 of 2024 1894, 20317, 10974, 26346, 26347, 28669, 28667, 31249, 31247 of 2025 and WMP.Nos.3073, 24984 of 2024 & 26344, 10972, 33251, 33252, 33711, 33712 of WP.No.26182 of 2023 :

Sarootham Padmanabhan ... Petitioner Page No.1 / 18

Versus

1.The State of Tamil Nadu Represented by Additional Chief Secretary to Government Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009 2.The Segur Plateau Elephant Corridor Inquiry Committee Represented by its Chairman Forestry Extension Campus Gymkhana Club Road Finger Post, Udhagamandalam - 643 006 The Niligiris District, Tamil Nadu 3.The District Collector, The Niligiris District Collectorate, Charring Cross Udhagamandalam - 643 001 The Niligiris.

... Respondents Prayer in WP.No.26182 of 2023: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, pleased to issue a Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records of the common order dated 19.08.2023 passed by the 2 nd respondent in Case No.19/2021 and to quash the same.

WP. 26182/2023 Mr. Sharath Chandran Page No.2 / 18

Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1 And R3 WP. 33129/2023 Ms. Jayna Kothari, Senior Counsel Assisted By Aparna Mehrotra And R. Rajagopalan and Ms.B.Devadharshini for Mr. M. V. Swaroop : Mr. J. Ravidran ,AAG Assisted By Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1 And R2 Mr. S. Karthikei Balan Standing Counsel (R3) WP. 1492/2024 : Mr. Abudu Kumar Rajarathinam, Senior Counsel for Mr.Rajagopal Vasudevan Respondent : Mr. J. Ravindran ,AAG Assisted By Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1 And R3 WP. 1637/2024 : Mr. Sharath Chandran for Mr.S. Ashok Kumar : Mr. J. Ravidran ,AAG Assisted By Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1 And R3 WP. 1777/2024 : Mr. Sharath Chandran for Mr.S. Ashok Kumar : Mr. J. Ravidran ,AAG Assisted By Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1 And R3 Page No.3 / 18

WP. 1945/2024 : Mr. Sharath Chandran for Mr.S. Ashok Kumar : Mr. J. Ravindran,AAG Assisted By Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1 And R3 WP. 2667/2024 : Mr.Abudu Kumar Rajarathinam, Senior Counsel for Mr.Sharath Chandran : Mr. J. Ravindran,AAG Assisted By Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1 And R3 WP. 2815/2024 : Mr. Abudu Kumar Rajarathinam, Senior Counsel for Mr.S.Ashok Kumar : Mr. J. Ravindran ,AAG Assisted By Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1 And R3 WP. 3941/2024 : Mr. Sharath Chandran for Mr.S. Ashok Kumar : Mr. J. Ravindran,AAG Assisted By Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1 And R3 WP. 4448/2024 Page No.4 / 18

: Mr. Sharath Chandran : Mr. J. Ravindran, AAG Assisted By Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1 And R3 WP. 6779/2024 : Mr. Sharath Chandran for Mr.S. Ashok Kumar Mr. J. Ravindran,AAG Assisted By Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1 And R3 WP. 7444/2024 Mr. Sharath Chandran Mr. J. Ravindran,AAG Assisted By Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1 And R3 WP. 8326/2024 Mr. T. Gowthaman, Senior Counsel For Mr. Muthucharan Sundresh : Mr. J. Ravindran,AAG Assisted By Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP, GP For R1 And R3 WP. 12687/2024 : Mr. Sharath Chandran for Mr.S. Ashok Kumar Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1 And R3 Page No.5 / 18

WP. 23499/2024 Mr. Salman Khurshid, Senior Counsel Assisted By Mr. Zafar Khurshid Assisted By Mr. Ramasamy Meiyappan Mr. S. Karthikei Balan Standing Counsel (R1) Dr. G. Babu SPC For R2 Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R3, R4 WP. 23502/2024 Mr. Salman Khurshid, Senior Counsel Assisted By Mr. Zafar Khurshid Assisted By Mr. Muthucharan Sundresh Mr. S. Karthikei Balan Standing Counsel (R1) Dr. G. Babu, SPC for R2 Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R3, R4 WP. 23521/2024 Mr. Salman Khurshid, Senior Counsel Assisted By Mr. Zafar Khurshid Assisted By Mr. P. Purushotham Mr. S. Karthikei Balan Standing Counsel (R1) Dr. G. Babu SPCFor R2 Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R3, R4, R5 WP. 23526/2024 Mr. Salman Khurshid, Senior Counsel Assisted By Mr. Zafar Khurshid Assisted By Mr. P. Purushotham Mr. S. Karthikei Balan Standing Counsel (R1) Page No.6 / 18

Dr. G. Babu SPC for R2 Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R3, R4, R5 WP. 23528/2024 Mr. Salman Khurshid, Senior Counsel Assisted By Mr. Zafar Khurshid Assisted By Mr. P. Purushotham Mr. S. Karthikei Balan Standing Counsel (R1) Dr. G. Babu SPCFor R2 Mr. J. Ravindran, AAG Assisted By Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R3, R4, R5 WP. 23532/2024 Mr. Salman Khurshid, Senior Counsel Assisted By Mr. Zafar Khurshid Assisted By Mr. Ramasamy Meiyyappan Mr. S. Karthikei Balan Standing Counsel (R1) Dr. G. Babu SPC for R2 Mr. J. Ravindran,AAG Assisted By Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R3, R4 WP. 23536/2024 Mr. Salman Khurshid, Senior Counsel Assisted By Mr. Zafar Khurshid Assisted By Mr.Muthucharan Sundaresh Mr. S. Karthikei Balan Standing Counsel (R1) Dr. G. Babu SPC For R2 Mr. J. Ravindran, AAG Assisted By Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R3, R4 WP. 24928/2024 Page No.7 / 18

Mr. T. Gowthaman, Senior Counsel For Mr. MuthucharanSundresh Mr. J. Ravindran,AAG Assisted By Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1, R3, R4 WP. 27450/2024 Mr. P. Purushotham Mr. S. Karthikei Balan Standing Counsel (R1) Mr. V. Chandrasekaran, SPC For R2 Mr. J. Ravindran, AAG Assisted By Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R3, R4, R5 WP. 28073/2024 Mr. P. Purushotham Mr. S. Karthikei Balan Standing Counsel (R1) Mr. V. Chandrasekaran, SPC For R2 Mr. J. Ravindran, AAG Assisted By Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R3, R4, R5 WP. 28505/2024 : Mr. V. Raghavachari, Senior Counsel For Mr. V. Ponnappa Bharathi And Ms. Annie Singh : Mr. S. Karthikei Balan Standing Counsel (R1) Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R2, R4, R5 Ms. J. Priscilla Pandian CGSSC For R3 Page No.8 / 18

WP. 28995/2024 Mr. Sharath Chandran Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1 And R3 WP. 33012/2024 Mr. Sharath Chandran Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1 And R3 WP. 34953/2024 Mr. A. Mohamed Ismail Mr. S. Karthikei Balan Standing Counsel (R1) Mr. V. Chandrasekaran, SPC For R2 Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R3, R4, R5 WP. 34956/2024 Mr. A. Mohamed Ismail Mr. S. Karthikei Balan Standing Counsel (R1) Mr. V. Chandrasekaran, SPC For R2 Mr. J. Ravindran, AAG Assisted By Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R3, R4, R5 WP. 34960/2024 Page No.9 / 18

Mr. A. Mohamed Ismail Mr. S. Karthikei Balan Standing Counsel (R1) Mr. V. Chandrasekaran, SPC For R2 Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R3, R4, R5 WP. 34964/2024 Mr. A. Mohamed Ismail Respondent Mr. S. Karthikei Balan Standing Counsel (R1) Mr. V. Chandrasekaran, SPC For R2 Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R3, R4, R5 WP. 34969/2024 Mr. A. Mohamed Ismail Mr. S. Karthikei Balan Standing Counsel (R1) Mr. V. Chandrasekaran, SPC For R2 Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R3, R4, R5 WP. 35966/2024 Mr. Sharath Chandran Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1 And R3 WP. 25371/2024 Mr. Sharath Chandran For Mr. Rajagopal Vasudevan Page No.10 / 18

Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1, R3, R4 WP. 25395/2024 : Mr. Abudu Kumar Rajarathinam, Senior Counsel for Mr.Rajagopalan Vasudevan Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1, R3, R4 WP. 25398/2024 Mr. Sharath Chandran For Mr. Rajagopal Vasudevan Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1, R3, R4 WP. 25405/2024 Mr. Sharath Chandran For Mr. Rajagopal Vasudevan Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1, R3, R4 WP. 25412/2024 Mr. Sharath Chandran For Mr. Rajagopal Vasudevan Respondent Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1, R3, R4 WP. 25414/2024 Page No.11 / 18

Mr. Sharath Chandran For Mr. Rajagopal Vasudevan Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1, R3, R4 WP. 25457/2024 Mr. Sharath Chandran For Mr. Rajagopal Vasudevan Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1, R3, R4 WP. 25464/2024 : Mr. Abudu Kumar Rajarathinam, Senior Counsel for Mr.Rajagopalan Vasudevan Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1, R3, R4 WP. 28949/2024 Mr. Sharath Chandran For Mr. Rajagopal Vasudevan Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1, R3, R4 WP. 1652/2025 Mr. Sharath Chandran For Mr. Rajagopal Vasudevan Respondent Page No.12 / 18

Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1, R3, R4 WP. 18143/2025 Mr. Sharath Chandran For Mr. Rajagopal Vasudevan Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP, For R1, R3, R4 WP. 9790/2025 Ms. Jayna Kothari, Senior Counsel Assisted By Aparna Mehrotra And R. Rajagopalan and Ms.B.Devadharshini for Mr. M. V. Swaroop Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP, For R1, R2, R4 Mr. S. Karthikei Balan Standing Counsel (R3) WP. 22933/2024 Mr. E. Om Prakash, Senior Counsel , Assisted By Mr. R. Murali For Mr. R. Ragavendran Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP, For R1 And R3 WP. 23478/2025 Mr. K. Sharath Chandran Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP,For R1, R3 Page No.13 / 18

WP. 25501/2025 Mr. Sharath Chandran For Mr. Rajagopal Vasudevan Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP,For R1, R2, R3 WP. 27892/2025 Mr. Sharath Chandran For Mr. Rajagopal Vasudevan Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP For R1, R3 WP. 29658/2025 Mr. Sharath Chandran Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP, For R1, R3 WP. 30075/2025 Mr. Sharath Chandran Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP, For R1, R3 W.P.No.27924 of 2024 Mr. V. Raghavachari, Senior Counsel For Mrs. V. Srimathi Page No.14 / 18

Respondent Mr. J. Ravindran, AAG Assisted By Dr. T. Seenivasan SGP Amicus Curiae Mr.T.Mohan, Senior Counsel

ORDER

It is stated that, with reference to the honorarium and other expenses to be paid to the Committee, a G.O. has been issued in G.O.(D) No.285, Environment, Climate Change and Forests (FR.5) Department, dated 28.11.2025. The same is taken on record. Needless to mention, as per the G.O., let the disbursement be made at the earliest. Accordingly, the matter stands closed. (N.S.K.,J.) (D.B.C.,J.) 05.12.2025 Internet : Yes mkn To:

Page No.15 / 18

1.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government The State of Tamil Nadu Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009 2.The Chairman The Segur Plateau Elephant Corridor Inquiry Committee Forestry Extension Campus Gymkhana Club Road Finger Post, Udhagamandalam - 643 006 The Niligiris District, Tamil Nadu 3.The District Collector, The Niligiris District Collectorate, Charring Cross Udhagamandalam - 643 001 The Niligiris.

Page No.16 / 18

N. SATHISH KUMAR, J.

AND D. BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY, J.

mkn Page No.17 / 18

05.12.2025 Page No.18 / 18