V.S.Mehanathan v. The District Collector
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 20.11.2025 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R. SURESH KUMAR AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR V.S.Mehanathan ..
Petitioner Vs.
1. The District Collector Thiruvallur District, Thiruvallur.
2. The Revenue Divisional Officer Ponneri Division, Ponneri Thiruvallur District.
3. The Tahsildar Ponneri Taluk, Ponneri Thiruvallur District.
4. Sundari ..
Respondents Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 3 to remove the encroachment made in S.Nos.538, 539 and 540/4 Town Panchayat of Ponneri and Taluk of Thiruvallur District by consideration petitioner representation dated 07.04.2025. For the Petitioner :
Mr.B.Ramprabu For the Respondents :
Mr.T.Chezhiyan Additional Government Pleader for R1 to R3
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by R.SURESH KUMAR, J.) Prayer sought herein is for a writ of mandamus, to direct the respondents 1 to 3 to remove the encroachment made in S.Nos.538, 539 and 540/4, Town Panchayat of Ponneri and Taluk of Thiruvallur District, by consideration of the petitioner's representation dated 07.04.2025.
2. It is the grievance of the petitioner that, adjacent to his residential area, there has been a lake at S.Nos.538, 539 and 540/4 at Ponneri Municipal limit, which has been encroached upon by the fourth respondent. Therefore, in order to remove such encroachment, a representation had been given by him on 07.04.2025 to the second respondent as well as the other Revenue Authorities, but, since no action has been taken so far, he has approached this Court, seeking the aforesaid prayer.
3. Heard Mr.B.Ramprabu, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.T.Chezhiyan, learned Additional Government Pleader for respondents 1 to 3. In view of the order that is going to be passed in this writ petition, notice to respondent 4 is hereby dispensed with.
4. The learned Additional Government Pleader for respondents 1 to 3 would submit that, if there has been any encroachment on the part of the fourth respondent or any other third parties, as alleged by the petitioner through his representation dated 07.04.2025, the same would be considered and after verifying the area concerned, which is a lake/waterbody, whether if it is an encroachment either by the fourth respondent or any other third party, the same would be removed by invoking the provisions of the concerned Legislation within a time-frame that may be stipulated by this Court.
5. Having regard to the said submissions made by the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the official respondents, this Court is inclined to dispose of this writ petition with the following orders:- (i) That there shall be a direction to respondents 2 and 3 to act upon the representation of the petitioner dated 07.04.2025 and after giving notice to the petitioner as well as the fourth respondent or any other encroachers in the waterbody, as alleged by the petitioner through
his representation, the same would be verified and if there are any encroachments in the waterbody, that could be removed/evicted in the manner known to law and this needful action shall be undertaken by the official respondents within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
6. With these directions, the writ petition is disposed of. However, there shall be no order as to costs. (R.S.K., J.) (H.C., J.) 20.11.2025 Speaking Order/Non-Speaking Order Internet:Yes/No Index:Yes/No (drm)
To:
1. The District Collector Thiruvallur District, Thiruvallur.
2. The Revenue Divisional Officer Ponneri Division, Ponneri Thiruvallur District.
3. The Tahsildar Ponneri Taluk, Ponneri Thiruvallur District.
R. SURESH KUMAR, J.
AND HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.
(drm) 20.11.2025