The Joint Director Of Town Panchayats v. Shanmuga Sundaram

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 09.06.2026 THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR W.M.P(MD)No.9426 of 2026 and W.P.(MD)No. 30497 of 2025 1.The Joint Director of Town Panchayats, District Town and Country Planning Office, Sector-6, Anaiyur Mudakanthan Main Road, Koodalputhur, Madurai-625107.

2.The Executive Officer, Paravai Special Grade Town Panchayat, Paravai, Madurai District.

... Petitioners vs.

1.Shanmuga Sundaram 2.M.Prema Shanmuga 3.S.Chokkalingam @ Suresh ... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Miscellaneous Petition filed under Section 226 of the Constitution of India to grant further period of 3 months from 16.04.2026 to 15.07.2026 to the second petitioner/respondent to comply with the order of this Court made in W.P.(MD)No.30497 of 2025, dated 02.02.2026.

For Petitioners :Mr.M.Mahaboob Athiff Government Advocate For R1 :Mr.S.Vellaichamy *****

O R D E R

This Court, by order dated 02.02.2026 in W.P.(MD) No.30497 of 2025, granted eight weeks' time from the date of receipt of a copy of the order to the respondents therein to consider the objections of the third respondent before passing orders on the request made by the writ petitioners for approval of the layout.

2.The present writ miscellaneous petition has been filed by respondents 1 and 2 in the writ petition seeking extension of time to comply with the directions issued by this Court. According to the petitioners, compliance with the order could not be completed within the stipulated period owing to the operation of the Model Code of Conduct in connection with the State Assembly Elections held on 23.04.2026.

3.The learned counsel appearing for the respondent in this petition/writ petitioner opposed the request and contended that respondents 1 and 2 had deliberately failed to comply with the order passed by this Court and had not made out any sufficient ground for extension of time. 4.This Court has considered the rival submissions and perused the affidavit filed in support of the petition. The reasons assigned by the petitioners for the delay, particularly the operation of the Model Code of Conduct during the election period, constitute sufficient cause for their inability to comply with the order within the time originally granted. 5.In view of the above, this Court is inclined to grant a limited extension of time.

6.Accordingly, the writ miscellaneous petition is allowed and the petitioners are granted a further period of one month from today to comply with the directions issued by this Court in W.P.(MD) No.30497 of 2025, dated 02.02.2026.

7.It is made clear that no further extension of time shall be granted. 09.06.2026 cmr

HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.

cmr W.M.P(MD)No.9426 of 2026 and W.P.(MD)No. 30497 of 2025 09.06.2026