Madras High CourtWP(MD)/11294/2019dismissed as infructuous

S.D.Ponraj, v. The District Collector

2026-03-04Honourable Mr Justice N. Sathish Kumar,Honourable Mr.Justice M.Jothiraman11 pages

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 04.03.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN and W.M.P(MD)Nos.9153, 9804 & 9805 of 2019 1.W.P(MD)No.11294 of 2019:

S.D.Ponraj ... Petitioner vs.

1.The District Collector, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi.

2.The Competent Authority, IOCL Pipe Line Project, Ram Nagar, Trichy - 1.

3.The Competent Authority, Acquisition Officer, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Pipeline Projects, 1/11

13/2957-20, Groundfloor, 2nd Street North, Aathmanatha Sami Nagar, Ramanathapuram - 623 503.

... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to draw the pipeline for carrying natural gas as per the publication made in the Gazette of India dated 11.04.2018 that is through the Sipcot Industrial Area by without changing the alignment by considering the representation of the petitioner as well as the villagers dated 23.04.2019. For Petitioner : Mr.S.C.Herold Singh For Respondents : Mr.J.Ashok (R1) Additional Government Pleader : Mr.K.Muraleedharan (R2 & R3) 2.W.P(MD)No.12189 of 2019:

K.Chellam ... Petitioner vs.

1.Union of India, Represented by the Secretary to Government, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi - 110 001.

2/11

2.Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Represented by its Director (IA-II), Government of India, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Aliganj, Jor Bagh, Lodhi Raod, New Delhi - 110 003.

3.Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board, Represented by the Secretary, 1st Floor, World Trade Centre, Babar Road, New Delhi - 110 001.

4.Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Represented by the General Manager (Construction), IOCL Pipeline Division, Southern Region Pipelines, House of Four Frames, Wheatcroft Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 34.

5.The Competent Authority, Land Acquisition Officer, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Pipe Line Projects, Plot No. 48, 3rd Street Sri Ram Nagar, Karumandapam, Trichy - 620 001.

3/11

6.Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Represented by its Member Secretary, 76, Mount Road, Annasalai, Guindy, Chennai - 32.

7.The District Revenue Officer & Additional District Magistrate, Thoothukudi District.

8.The District Environmental Engineer, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Thhoothukudi District 9.The Wildelife Warden, Madurai Rameshwaram Road, Kadamba Nagar, Ramanathapuram - 623 503.

... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records relating to the impugned Gazette notification dated 05.10.2018 in S.O.5182 (E) and the consequential declaratory Gazette notification dated 18.02.2019 in S.O.932(E) issued by the Government of India under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas for the purpose of acquiring the Right of User of the agricultural lands mentioned in the schedule appended to the notifications and quash the same and consequently direct the respondents not to lay any gas pipelines through the agricultural lands of South Veerapandiapuram Village.

4/11

For Petitioner : Mr.N.Dilip Kumar For Respondents : Mr.S.Karthik (R1 to R3) Central Government Standing Counsel : Ms.Madhuri Donti Reddy (R6 & R8) : Mr.J.Ashok (R7 & R9) Additional Government Pleader 3.W.P(MD)No.13163 of 2019:

K.Chellam ... Petitioner vs.

1.Union of India, Represented by the Secretary to Government, Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Aliganj, Jor Bagh, Lodhi Raod, New Delhi - 110 003.

2.Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Represented by the General Manager (Construction), IOCL Pipeline Division, Southern Region Pipelines, House of Four Frames, Wheatcroft Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 34.

5/11

3.The Competent Authority, Land Acquisition Officer, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Pipe Line Projects, Plot No. 48, 3rd Street Sri Ram Nagar, Karumandapam, Trichy - 620 001.

4.Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Represented by its Member Secretary, 76, Mount Road, Annasalai, Guindy, Chennai - 32.

5.The District Revenue Officer & Additional District Magistrate, Thoothukudi, Thoothukudi District.

6.The District Environmental Engineer, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Thhoothukudi, Thoothukudi District 7.The Wildelife Warden, Madurai Rameshwaram Road, Kadamba Nagar, Ramanathapuram - 623 503.

... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records relating to the impugned proceedings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and 6/11

Climate Change dated 23.08.2018 in F.No.J-11011/337/2014-IA-II(I) holding that the natural gas pipeline project from Ramanathapuram to Tuticorin section does not require a prior environmental clearance and quash the same.

For Petitioner : Mr.N.Dilip Kumar For Respondents : Mr.S.Karthik (R1) Central Government Standing Counsel : Mr.K.Muraleedharan (R2 & R3) : Ms.Madhuri Donti Reddy (R4 & R6) : Mr.J.Ashok (R5 & R7) Additional Government Pleader COMMON ORDER (Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.) When the matter is taken up for hearing today, the learned counsels appearing on either side submitted that the pipelines have already been removed and compensation has also been paid to the petitioners and nothing survives for further adjudication in these Writ Petitions. 7/11

2.Recording the said submission, these Writ Petitions are dismissed as infructuous. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed. [N.S.K.,J.] [M.J.R.,J.] 04.03.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes ps To 1.The District Collector, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi.

2.The Competent Authority, IOCL Pipe Line Project, Ram Nagar, Trichy - 1.

3.The Competent Authority, Acquisition Officer, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Pipeline Projects, 13/2957-20, Groundfloor, 2nd Street North, Aathmanatha Sami Nagar, Ramanathapuram - 623 503.

8/11

4.The Secretary to Government, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi - 110 001.

5.Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Represented by its Director (IA-II), Government of India, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Aliganj, Jor Bagh, Lodhi Raod, New Delhi - 110 003.

6.Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board, Represented by the Secretary, 1st Floor, World Trade Centre, Babar Road, New Delhi - 110 001.

7.Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Represented by the General Manager (Construction), IOCL Pipeline Division, Southern Region Pipelines, House of Four Frames, Wheatcroft Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 34.

8.The Competent Authority, Land Acquisition Officer, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Pipe Line Projects, Plot No. 48, 3rd Street Sri Ram Nagar, Karumandapam, Trichy - 620 001.

9/11

9.Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Represented by its Member Secretary, 76, Mount Road, Annasalai, Guindy, Chennai - 32.

10.The District Revenue Officer & Additional District Magistrate, Thoothukudi District.

11.The District Environmental Engineer, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Thhoothukudi District 12.The Wildelife Warden, Madurai Rameshwaram Road, Kadamba Nagar, Ramanathapuram - 623 503.

10/11

N.SATHISH KUMAR , J.

and M.JOTHIRAMAN , J.

ps ORDER MADE IN DATED : 04.03.2026 11/11