Jeya Kannan v. The District Collector
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 19.01.2026 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE G.JAYACHANDRAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN WP(MD)Nos.14993 of 2024 and 15097 of 2025 and WMP(MD) No.13137 of 2024 Jeya Kannan ... Petitioner Vs
1. The District Collector, Tenkasi District, Tenkasi.
2. The Superintendent of Police, Tenkasi District, Tenkasi.
3. The Block Development Officer, Kuruvikulam Panchayat Union, Thiruvengadam Taluk, Tenkasi District.
4. The President, A.Karisalkulam Panchayat , Thiruvengadam Taluk, Tenkasi District.
5. Seenivasan, S/o.Ramasamy, Maiparai Village, Thiruvengadam Taluk, Tenkasi District.
... Respondents Page No.1 of 9
PRAYER :- Writ Petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this court to issue a Writ of Mandamus direct the respondents 1 to 4 to take appropriate action as against the 5th respondent for his illegal act and consequently to direct the respondents 1 to 4 to implement the Jal Jeevan Mission in the petitioners village namely Aalama Naickerpatti Village, A.Karisalkulam Panchayat, Thiruvengadam Taluk, Tenkasi District by duly conducting tender in a manner known to law, so as to enable the petitioners villagers to get the good quality drinking water pipe line connections by considering the petitioner's representations dated 02.07.2024 and 03.07.2024 within a time frame fixed by this Court.
For Petitioner(s): Mr.M.S.Jeyakarthick For Respondent(s): Mr.D.Sasikumar for R1, R3 and R4 Additional Government Pleader Mr.K.Gnanasekaran for R2 Government Advocate (Crl. Side) Mr.R.J.Karthick for R5 WP(MD) No.15097 of 2025
1. S.Mariappan,
2. Seenivasan ... Petitioners Vs
1. The District Collector, Tenkasi, Tenkasi District..
2. The Project Director, District Rural Development Agency, Tenkasi..
3. The Block Development Officer, Rural Development, Kuruvikulam, Tenkasi District.
Page No.2 of 9
4.Jeyakannan ... Respondents (R4 has been impleaded vide order dated 19.01.2026 in WMP(MD) No.12225 of 2025) PRAYER :- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to disburse the payment due to the petitioners for Providing Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) with pipeline in Alamanickerpatti Village, A.Karisalkulam Panchayat Tenkasi District along with interest within a time frame fixed by this Court.
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by Dr.G.JAYACHANDRAN, J.) WP(MD) No.14993 of 2024 : the petitioner herein has filed the present writ petition as a public interest writ seeking a writ of mandamus directing the respondents 1 to 4 to take appropriate action as against the 5th respondent for carrying out Jal Jeevan project (providing drinking water facility to the villagers) without proper tender process alleging that under the guise of providing water to the villagers, the 5th respondent has damaged the pipeline and also made huge claim for the alleged work.
2. The specific case of the petitioner is that without allotting the work order by following the tender process, the 5th respondent has been entrusted the work of laying water pipeline in the village by the 4th respondent and the Page No.3 of 9
officials. Hence, he seeks direction to the respondents 1 to 4 to implement Jal Jeevan mission in the petitioner's village by duly conducting the tender process and identify the contractor and complete the work within a specific time limit.
3. In response to this, counter has been filed by the third respondent, namely, Block Development Officer, Kuruvikulam Panchayat Union. It is stated that administrative sanction was issued by the District Collector on 04.12.2023 for an estimated cost of Rs.2,60,000/- for the extension of pipeline under the 15th Central Finance Commission Funds. Similarly for overhead water storage tank, administrative sanction was issued by the District Collector on 18.11.2023 for estimated cost of Rs.25 lakhs/- and work order was issued on 29.12.2023. On 18.07.2024, administrative sanction for housing water supply and pipeline scheme 2024-25 under the 15th Central Finance Commission Funds was issued for estimated cost of Rs.6,70,000/-. While implementing the scheme, it was found that old pipeline is heavily damaged and require replacement with new pipeline. Therefore, to maintain regular water supply, the contractor was directed to implement scheme of laying new pipeline.
4. It is contended by the third respondent that no violation of Tender Transparency Act was committed and the Jal Jeevan Scheme has fully been Page No.4 of 9
implemented and each of the village household is provided with water supply.
5. The learned counsel for the petitioner has received information through Right to Information Act, wherein, the extension of water pipeline at the cost of Rs.2,60,000/- was allotted to one Dhamodhara Kannan of Pudhupatti. The construction of overhead water storage tank at the estimated cost of Rs.25 lakhs was allotted to one Mariappan and though administrative sanction was issued for household tap connection at the estimated cost of Rs.6,70,000/-, tender was not finalised.
6. In spite of the said information given by the authorities, it is contended by the learned counsel for the petitioner that one Mariappan and Srinivasan, have filed the writ petition in WP(MD) No.15097 of 2025, stating that they have completed all the three above said works and payment should be made to them and for disbursement of Rs.2,60,000/- for the alleged work done on extension of pipeline for water supply in Aalamanaickanpatti village and A.Karisalkulam Panchayat and for disbursement of Rs.6,70,000/- for the work done on functional household tap connections in the said village and another Rs.5 lakhs each for functional household tap connections. Page No.5 of 9
7. The learned counsel for the writ petitioners in WP(MD) No. 15097/2025 would submit that as per the administrative sanction work order issued, they should carry on the extension of pipeline for water supply in Aalamanaickanpatti village. Accordingly they carried out the work in two parts. While carrying on the work, it was found that the old pipelines were fully damaged and it required replacement by new pipeline and on the instruction of the Block Development Officer, new pipeline was laid and for which the payment is due and payable by the Panchayat. In view of the objections raised by the petitioner in WP(MD) No.14993 of 2024, the payment is withheld by the authorities.
8. On perusing the records, we find that WP(MD) No.14993 of 2024 has been filed by Jeyakannan alleging that without proper tender process, Jal Jeevan scheme has been allotted to one Mariappan and therefore, necessary direction should be issued to the authorities to follow the Tender Transparency Act for implementation of Jal Jeevan Schema and the said scheme should be completed within the prescribed time. From the report submitted by the Block Development Officer, it appears that the entire village has now been provided with water pipeline under the Jal Jeevan Scheme and the purpose is completed. Therefore, the scope of the writ petition filed by Jeyakannan is very limited and Page No.6 of 9
the prayer is substantially complied with and nothing survives in it.
9. As far as the other writ petition jointly filed by Mariappan and Srinivasan, which is WP(MD) No.15097 of 2025, in which, Jeyakannan has filed an application to get his name impleaded and the writ petition should not be allowed, he placed certain documents to show that the work order was issued to Dhamodharakannan. However, the writ petition is filed by Srinivasan. However insofar as the extension of water pipeline at the cost of Rs.2,60,000/-, the learned counsel for Jeyakannan also furnished information got under the Right to Information Act that no tender is allotted to Srinivasan.
10. Be that as it may, after administrative sanction was issued and work order was given to the Contractor, as per law, the person, who has completed the work, is entitled for the tender amount. It is for the authorities to verify as to whom the contract has been given and whether the work has been done as per the specifications. If the work has been done to the satisfaction and with the specification of the tender, the person, who has completed the work is entitled for the money. Hence, while disposing WP(MD) No.14993 of 2024, as nothing survives, after completion of Jal Jeevan Scheme providing water supply to each of the household in the said village, WP(MD) No.15097 of 2025 Page No.7 of 9
is disposed of with a direction to the first respondent District Collector to verify the records including the tender documents and the 'M' Book for the execution of the work and after conducting due enquiry, release the money to the person to whom the tender was allotted. No costs. Consequently connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.
(G.J, J.) (K.K.R.K, J.) Index : Yes / No 19.01.2026 RR To
1. The District Collector, Tenkasi District, Tenkasi.
2. The Superintendent of Police, Tenkasi District, Tenkasi.
3. The Project Director, District Rural Development Agency, Tenkasi..
4. The Block Development Officer, Kuruvikulam Panchayat Union, Thiruvengadam Taluk, Tenkasi District.
Page No.8 of 9
DR.G.JAYACHANDRAN, J and K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN, J.
RR Order made in WP(MD)Nos.14993 of 2024 and 15097 of 2025 DATED : 19.01.2026 Page No.9 of 9