R.Pugazhanthi, v. The Principal Chief Conservator Of Forest,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 07.01.2026 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR. MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN WA No. 3973 of 2025 and CMP No.32200 of 2025 R.Pugazhanthi, S/o. Ranganathan, Mettu Street, Sindhamani, Vikiravandi Taluk, Villupuram District.
Appellant(s) Vs
1. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Forest Headquarters Building, Near Kannikapuram Check Post, Vellacherry Main Road, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.
2. The Chief Conservator of Forest, Villupuram District, Villupuram.
3. The Forest Officer, Villupuram District, Villupuram.
Respondent(s)
PRAYER : Appeal under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent to set aside the order dated 10.09.2025 passed in W.P.No.19589 of 2025 by the learned Single Judge.
For Appellant(s):
Mr.K.Krishnan for M/s.L.Karthiga For Respondent(s):
Mr.K.Karthik Jagannath Government Advocate
JUDGMENT
(Delivered by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) Challenge to the order passed by the learned Single Judge is premised mainly on the ground that, even though the appellant had expressed various difficulties in completing his contractual obligation of cutting remaining trees and sought further time up to 30.6.2026, the same was not accepted by the learned Single Judge.
2. In our view, the appellant, having failed to make out a case of violation of Article 14 of the Constitution of India in the matter of a contractual dispute, is not entitled to any relief whatsoever in view of the authoritative pronouncement of the Supreme Court in the case of ABL International Ltd. v. Export Credit Guarantee Corpn. of India Ltd1.
1(2004) 3 SCC 553
3. No doubt, even in the matter of contractual dispute, the hands of the writ court are not completely tied and in appropriate case, where the State authorities have acted in an arbitrary manner, the writ court may step in. The present case is not the one where writ jurisdiction is to be invoked in favour of the appellant who failed to fulfill the contractual obligation in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.
Appeal is, therefore, without merits and dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, interim application stands closed.
(MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CJ) (G.ARUL MURUGAN,J) 07.01.2026 Index :
Yes/No :
Yes/No sasi
To:
1. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Forest Headquarters Building, Near Kannikapuram Check Post, Vellacherry Main Road, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.
2. The Chief Conservator of Forest, Villupuram District, Villupuram.
3. The Forest Officer, Villupuram District, Villupuram.
THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND G.ARUL MURUGAN,J.
(sasi) WA No. 3973 of 2025 and CMP No.32200 of 2025 07.01.2026