V.Sharmila v. The District Collector / Inspector Of Panchayat
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 10.03.2026
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN and W.M.P.(MD)Nos.5021 & 5022 of 2026 V.Sharmila ... Petitioner Vs.
1. The District Collector / Inspector of Panchayat, Tenkasi, Tenkasi District.
2. The Chief Engineer, Distribution Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Maharaja Nagar, Tirunelveli, Tirunelveli District.
3. The Superintendent Engineer, Distribution Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Tirunelveli.
4. The Executive Engineer, Kadayanallur, Tenkasi District.
5. The Junior Engineer, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, 5/150A, Naveneetha Nagar, Thalaivankottai, Thalaivankottai, Tenkasi District.
... Respondents 1/6
PRAYER:- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorari, to call for the records relating to the impugned order issued by the 1st respondent in his proceedings in Na.Ka.No.COLRD/397/2026-A4 AD (P & A)N dated 05.02.2026 and quash the same as illegal.
For Petitioner : Mr.J.Jeyakumaran For Respondents : Mr.P.T.Thiraviam, Govt. Advocate for R1 Mr.S.Deenadhayalan, Standing Counsel for R2 to R5
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.) The writ petitioner, claiming to be the President of Thalaivankottai Panchayat, Ward No. 1, challenges the order passed by the first respondent shifting the office of the fifth respondent from Thalaivankottai Village to Mullikulam Village.
2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the office of the 5th respondent was originally functioning at Mullikulam Village. Since the building was in a dilapidated condition, 2/6
the said office was shifted to Thalaivankottai. He would further submit that the present office located at Thalaivankottai benefits nearly 17 villages and, therefore, shifting the office to Mullikulam would cause inconvenience to the people of those villages. It is also submitted that the newly proposed building is situated adjacent to a village pond and is not safe for public use. Hence, the petitioner has filed the present Writ Petition.
3. This Court heard the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.
4. It is not in dispute that the Section Office of the 5th respondent was originally situated at Mullikulam Village for more than 60 years. Since the original building was in a dilapidated condition, the office was shifted to Thalaivankottai Village on 11.08.2025. After carrying out proper renovation, it was decided to shift the office back to the Government building at Mullikulam Village. Challenging the said decision, the petitioner has filed the present Writ Petition. This Court finds that no person can claim, as a matter of right, that a Government 3/6
office should be located at a particular place. It is also evident that the office of the 5th respondent had been functioning at Mullikulam Village for more than 60 years. Therefore, the contention of the petitioner that shifting the office of the 5th respondent from Thalaivankottai to Mullikulam Village would cause inconvenience to the public cannot be sustained. That apart, the petitioner has already filed a Writ Petition in W.P.(MD)No.28946 of 2025 for the same relief and the said Writ Petition has already been dismissed by this Court vide order dated 16.10.2025. Hence, there is no merit in this Writ Petition and the same is liable to be dismissed.
5. Accordingly, this writ petition is dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.
[N.S.K., J.] & [M.J.R., J.] 10.03.2026 Index :Yes/No NCC :Yes/No vsm 4/6
To
1. The District Collector / Inspector of Panchayat, Tenkasi, Tenkasi District.
2. The Chief Engineer, Distribution Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Maharaja Nagar, Tirunelveli, Tirunelveli District.
3. The Superintendent Engineer, Distribution Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Tirunelveli.
4. The Executive Engineer, Kadayanallur, Tenkasi District.
5. The Junior Engineer, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, 5/150A, Naveneetha Nagar, Thalaivankottai, Thalaivankottai, Tenkasi District.
5/6
N.SATHISH KUMAR , J.
AND M.JOTHIRAMAN, J.
vsm 10.03.2026 6/6