Vijayarangan, v. Mrs. V.R. Subbulakshmi And 4 Others
2026:MHC:997
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 10.03.2026
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.SURENDER Vijayarangan
...Petitioner
Vs.
1.V.R.Subbulakshmi, The District Collector, Vellore Collectorate Office, Vellore District.
2.Venda, The Tahsildar, Anaicut, Vellore District.
3.K.Ramamoorthy, District Revenue Officer, Vellore District.
4.Hemalatha, The Block Development Officer, Anaicut, Vellore District.
5.Jothi, The Village Administrative Officer, Vettuvanam Village and Post, Vellore District.
...Respondents
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PRAYER: Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 praying to punish the respondents for their wilful disobedience of the orders of this Court made in W.P.No.10757 of 2024 dated 18.04.2024. For Petitioner : Mr.Abinesh Babu For Respondents : Mr.D.Ravichander, Spl. Govt. Pleader ********
O R D E R
(Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.) The contempt petition has been instituted to punish the respondents for their wilful disobedience of the order dated 18.04.2024 passed in W.P.No.10757 of 2021.
2. This Court has passed the following orders:-
2. Learned Special Government Pleader submits that survey of the subject writ land would be conducted within four months from today and if upon survey encroachment is noticed, then expeditious steps would be undertaken to remove the encroachment in accordance with law.
3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the District Collector has instructed the Tahsildar to initiate action, identify the encroachments and remove the same. Despite the instructions given by the 2/5
District Collector, now the Government has taken a decision to assign the Government lands for construction of residential houses to landless poor persons, which amounts to contempt of Court.
4. The learned Special Government Pleader would oppose by stating that the Government has considered the issues elaborately and formed an opinion that the said land is not required for any other purposes and accordingly decided to assign the same to the encroachers who are all landless poor persons. Eligible landless encroachers were identified by preparing enumeration list and accordingly assignment of land was made under the Government Welfare Scheme to protect the livelihood of the landless poor people in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Revenue Standing Orders. He further submitted that the District Collector has submitted a proposal to the Commissioner of Land Administration, who in turn addressed to the Government and only after receiving an order, the said lands have been assigned in favour of the landless poor persons.
5. This being the policy decision taken by the Government, there is no wilful disobedience of the orders of this Court warranting any further action by invoking the provisions of the Contempt of Courts Act. 3/5
6. Accordingly, this Contempt Petition is dismissed. (S.M.S., J.) (K.S.,J.) 10.03.2026 dsa Internet :Yes/No Index :Yes/No 4/5
S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.
and K.SURENDER, J.
dsa 10.03.2026 5/5