Annai Anjugam Nagar Residents Welfare And Cultural Association v. A.R.Rahul Nath,Ias., And 3 Others

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 08.12.2025 C O R A M THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN in Cont.P.No.2916 of 2023 Annai Anjugam Nagar Residents' Welfare and Cultural Association (Regd.No.312/1987) Urappakkam West, Chengalpattu District-603 211.

Rep. by its Secretary K.Selvarajan ... Petitioner -vs1. Thiru.A.R.Rahul Nath, I.A.S., The District Collector, Collector Office, GST Road, Chengalpattu District-603 001.

2. Thiru.Venkataraghavan Block Development Officer (BDO), Panchayat Union Office, Kattankolathur, Chengalpattu - 603 203.

3. Thiru.Rajendran Tahsildar Vandalur Taluk, Chengalpattu District.

4. Tmt.K.Indubala The Project Director, DRDA (Panchayats), Chengalpattu District.

... Respondents 1/4

Prayer: Application filed under Section 151 of CPC to reopen the Contempt Petition in Cont.P.No.2916 of 2023.

For Petitioner : Mr.C.Rajaguru For Respondents : Mr.T.Arun Kumar Addl. Govt. Pleader *****

O R D E R

(By.S.M.SUBRAMANIAM,J.,) Pursuant to the orders passed in W.P.Nos.19997 and 22428 of 2018, the petitioner filed Contempt Petition No.2916 of 2023. The said Contempt Petition came to be closed on 09.10.2025, based on the submission made by the learned counsel for the petitioner that a Peace Committee Meeting has been convened and a decision has been taken not to demolish religious institutions. It was further submitted that other encroachments were removed.

2. By filing the present Sub Application, learned counsel for the applicant would turn around and submit that no decision had been arrived at during the course of Peace Committee Meeting and several other encroachments have not been removed. Thus, the Contempt Petition is to be reopened.

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3. The Tahsildar, Vandalur Taluk filed a Status Report before this Court dated 09.10.2025, detailing the proceedings of the Peace Committee Meeting, which reads as under:

"3. It is respectfully submitted that pursuant to the order dated 15.02.2023, the 4th respondent herein, in the course of implementing the directions of this Hon'ble Court, convened a Peace Committee Meeting on 04.09.2023, inviting the participation of the petitioner as well as the community and religious heads of the locality.

4. It is submitted that several of the 'sites' referred to in the Contempt Petition contain temples, churches, and mosques, which have been in existence for considerable time and arebeing used by the residents of all faiths for their regular worship and religious activities.

5. It is submitted that in order to ensure communal peace and harmony, and to avoid any possible tension in the locality while implementing the Hon'ble Court's directions, the 4th respondent convened the said peace meeting on 04.09.2023. The proceedings of the meeting were duly recorded in Na.Ka.No.01/2023/uu dated 04.09.2023.

6. It is submitted that during the said meeting, and in the presence of the petitioner, it was collectively resolved that: (a) There shall be no disturbance to the existing religious structures or worship premises, irrespective of denomination, so as to preserve religious harmony and public peace; and (b) The authorities shall not permit any new construction within the Open Space Reservation (OSR) area henceforth.

7. The Petitioner also agreed and conceded to the said resolution.

8. It is submitted that the photographs of the existing religious structures, including, for example, the 60-foot Vinayagar idol and other temples, churches, and mosques, were produced before this Hon'ble Court when the above Contempt Petition was listed on 15.12.2023."

4. In view of the decision taken collectively by the people in the Peace Committee Meeting and taking into consideration the Status 3/4

S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.

AND C.KUMARAPPAN, J.

ar Report filed by the Tahsildar, this Court is of the view that reopening of contempt does not arise at all.

5. Accordingly, the present Sub Application stands dismissed. (S.M.S,J.,) (C.K,J.,) 08.12.2025 Index: Yes / No Internet: Yes / No ar To:

1. Thiru.A.R.Rahul Nath, I.A.S., The District Collector, Collector Office, GST Road, Chengalpattu District-603 001.

2. Thiru.Venkataraghavan Block Development Officer (BDO), Panchayat Union Office, Kattankolathur, Chengalpattu - 603 203.

3. Thiru.Rajendran Tahsildar Vandalur Taluk, Chengalpattu District.

4. Tmt.K.Indubala The Project Director, DRDA (Panchayats), Chengalpattu District.

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