Madras High CourtWP(MD)/10988/2026allowed

M/S.Pattukkottai United Youth Association v. The Principal Secretary

2026-04-22Honourable Mr Justice G.R.Swaminathan,Honourable Mr Justice B.Pugalendhi7 pages

1 W.P.(MD)NO.10988 OF 2026 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 22.04.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI W.P.(MD)No.10988 of 2026 M/s.Pattukkottai United Youth Association (Reg.No.38/2025), Rep. By its President, M.Raja Prabhu, No.134/A, Kottai Allah Kovil Street, Pattukkottai, Thanjavur District.

... Petitioner Vs.

1. The Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department(WRD), Public Works Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Chepauk, Chennai.

2. The District Collector / Monitoring Committee, O/o.District Collector Office, Thanjavur, Thanjavur District.

3. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Pattukkottai Division, Pattukkottai, Thanjavur District.

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4. The Tahsildar, Pattukkottai Taluk Office, Pattukkottai, Thanjavur District.

5. The Executive Engineer, Water Resources Department/ Public Works Department, Kallanai Canal Division, Thanjavur District.

6. The Assistant Engineer, Water Resources Department/Public Works Department, Ooranipuram(Pattukkottai Division), Pattukkottai Taluk, Thanjavur District.

7. The Block Development Officer, Pattukkottai Panchayat Union Office, Pattukkottai, Thanjavur District.

8. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Pattukkottai DSP Office, Pattukkottai, Thanjavur District.

9. The Inspector of Police, Pattukkottai Taluk police station, Thanjavur District.

10. Ayyakannu

11. Gurumanickam

12. Palanaiappan Ambalam

13. Mookkaiyan

14. Xavier

15. Simiyon 16.Arockiyasamy 17.Martin 18.Michael Raj 19.Paulraj ... Respondents 2/7

3 W.P.(MD)NO.10988 OF 2026 Prayer: Writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 9 herein to remove the encroachments made by the respondents 10 to 19 herein over Painkattuvayal lake comprised in Paimash numbers 188/1, 188/2, which was subsequently subdivided and assigned new survey numbers as survey Nos.1.100, 101, 102, 103, 104 105, 106/1, 106/2, 106/3, 106/4, 106/5, 106/6,107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118 and 119 situate in Painkattuvayal Village, Pattukottai Taluk, Thanjavur District with an extent of 105 hectares and 19 cents based on the petitioner's representation dated 24.03.2026 and permit the petitioner along with local residents, volunteers and other nongovernmental organisations to restore the lake to its original position, within a time frame as stipulated by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.P.Gunasekaran For Respondents : Mr.C.Venkatesh Kumar, Special Government Pleader for R-1 to R-6.

Mr.K.Gnanasekaran, Government Advocate for R-8 & R-9.

Mr.S.Vinodh, Government Advocate for R-7.

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O R D E R

Heard the learned counsel appearing for the writ petitioner and the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents 1 to 6 and the learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents 7 to 9.

2. Issuance of notice to the private respondents is dispensed with.

3. The writ petitioner is a registered body. They complain that the petition mentioned lake has been heavily encroached upon. The learned Special Government Pleader admits that the petition mentioned survey numbers have been together classified as water body. The specific case of the writ petitioner is that the lake measuring about 105 hectares and 19 cents has now been reduced to a tiny pond on account of the plantation activities carried out by the private respondents Herein.

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4. We direct the fourth respondent to forthwith conduct survey in the presence of the writ petitioner as well as the encroachers. Based on the outcome of the survey, Form-I notice shall be issued. Respondents 5 and 6 are mandated to issue the consequential Form-II and Form-III notices to the encroachers and clear all the encroachments. The ninth respondent is directed to extend their fullest assistance to the revenue authorities and that the Water Resource Department authorities are also directed to clear the encroachment. Once the encroachments are cleared, the petitioner is permitted to carry out all the remedial steps so that the lake in question is restored to its original condition. This writ petition stands allowed on these terms. Since the writ petitioner which is a registered body whose main object is restoration of water bodies, we permit them to restore the water body to its original condition out of their own funds. No costs.

(G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.) & (B.PUGALENDHI, J.) 22nd April 2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No PMU 5/7

6 W.P.(MD)NO.10988 OF 2026 To: