P.Ranjith Kumar, v. State Of Tamil Nadu,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 10.01.2025
CORAM
THE HON'BLE Mr. JUSTICE C.V.KARTHIKEYAN W.P.No.38388 of 2024 1.P.Ranjith Kumar 2.Kavitha 3.N.Sugumar 4.B.Nithya 5.M.Mythili 6.S.Vimalesh 6.R.Hemalatha 8.A.Devi 9.M.Arul Kumar 10.R.Pattieshwari 11.M.Velumani 12.E.Menaka Devi 13.Ranganathan 14.M.Suganya 15.Raeswari 16.Muniammal 17.S.Ravichandran 18.Selvaraj 19.Sekar 20.Mohan Raj 21.Priya .. Petitioners Vs.
1.The State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Chief Secretary,
For St. George, Chennai 600 009.
2.The District Collector, Coimbatore District, Coimbatore.
3.The Commissioner, Corporation of Coimbatore, Coimbatore.
4.The District Revenue Officer, O/o. the District Collector, Coimbatore.
5.The Tahsildar, Peru Taluk, Coimbatore.
.. Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the Respondents to consider the Petitioner's written representation dated 10.10.2024 addressed to them and consequently restore public toilets in their area being at Muthiah Odayar Veedhi, MGR Nagar, Telugupalayam, Coimbatore -640 039 within a time frame that may be fixed by this Court and also from dispossessing them from the place of their occupation at Muthiah Odayar Veedhi, MGR Nagar, Telugupalayam, Coimbatore 640 039 except by due process of law.
For Petitioner .. Mr.C.P.Sivamohan For Respondents .. Mr.N.Naveen Kumar Government Advocate for R1, R2, R4 & R5 Mr.Najeeb Usman Khan Standing Counsel for R3
ORDER
This writ petition has been filed in the nature of a mandamus seeking consideration of a representation given by the petitioners on 10.10.2024 to the respondents herein and direct restoration of public toilets at Muthiah Odayar Veedhi, MGR Nagar, Telugupalayam, Coimbatore District. 2.In the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition, it had been stated that the petitioners had given a representation on 10.10.2024 seeking provision of basic amenity of public toilets to be restored back to them. The public toilets were in existence, but were demolished by the respondents. It had been stated that the petitioners are labourers and daily coolie works doing menial job in neighbouring industries and factories. Some of them are women folk working as housemaid and domestic help.
It is stated that their household is extremely small and they have been using the public toilets of the Tamil Nadu Government through the Corporation of Coimbatore. The Corporation had constructed the pubic toilets. It had been stated that the public toilets had been demolished and the petitioners have been put to much difficulty and hardship as they have to go to pubic toilets in the adjoining areas.
3.The matter came up on 18.12.2024, on which date, this Court had made the following observation:
The grievance of the petitioner is that the public toilet which has been in place for number of years had been demolished by the respondents. The petitioners seek reason. They also seek reason as to why it had not been re-put up in any other convenient place. Demolition is not the answer. Necessary instructions to be obtained. List the matter once again on 10.01.2025. 4.It is today informed by the learned Standing Counsel for the 3rd respondent, Commissioner, Coimbatore Corporation, that a decision had been taken to restore the public toilets and that the contractor had also been appointed for the same and work order had also been issued.
The said work order had been exchanged with the learned counsel for the petitioners who pointed out that the work order had been issued as early as February 2024 and that the work had been proceeding at snail pace. It will only be appropriate that the 3rd respondent ensures that the public toilets are completed within the stipulated period and that the work order is not just a piece of paper issued for the purpose to satisfy the petitioners herein. A direction is given that the construction of the public toilets must be completed on or before 31.03.2025.
5.The writ petition stands allowed with the above observation. No Costs. 10.01.2025 Index:Yes/No (2/2) Internet:Yes/No Speaking Order/Non-Speaking Order ssr To 1.The Chief Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu For St. George, Chennai 600 009.
2.The District Collector, Coimbatore District, Coimbatore.
3.The Commissioner, Corporation of Coimbatore, Coimbatore.
4.The District Revenue Officer, O/o. the District Collector, Coimbatore.
5.The Tahsildar, Peru Taluk, Coimbatore.
C.V.KARTHIKEYAN,J.
ssr W.P.No.38388 of 2024 10.01.2025 (2/2)