Duraipandi v. The District Collector
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 09.06.2026
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN W.P.(MD)No.15390 of 2026 and W.M.P.(MD)Nos.11538 & 11539 of 2026 Duraipandi ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The District Collector, Sivagangai Taluk, Sivagangai.
2.The Divisional Forest Officer, Social Forestry Division, No.13, Master Plan Campus, Sivagangai.
3.The Executive Engineer, Department of Water Resources, Sarugani River Basin Division, Sivagangai.
4.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Senthamil Nagar, Sivagangai.
5.The Tahsildar, Thirupuvanam Taluk, Sivagangai.
6.R.Subramaniyan
...Respondents
1/5
PRAYER:- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records pertaining to the impugned proceedings of the first respondent in MuMu.B2-15410/2025 dated 27.07.2025 and the consequential auction notification issued by the third respondent in ViVeNo. 6/26/Se/Ma/Tho/A/Sivagangai/dated 12.01.2026 along with the impugned cutting order issued by the third respondent in proceedings No.Tha3/990.2026/ dated 12.03.2026 in favour of the sixth respondent and quash the same insofar as the reduced determination of the extent of area wherein Karuvelam trees grown as 87.53 hectares instead of the actual total extent of 274.85 hectares in the water body namely Konthagai Kanmai situates in Konthagai Revenue Village of Thirupuvanam Taluk, Sivagangai District by fixing the time limit that may be fixed by this Court.
For Petitioner : Mr.C.M.Arumugam For Respondents : Mr.C.Jeganathan (R1 to R5) Counsel for State Mr.A.K.Manikkam (R6)
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.) This Writ Petition has been filed challenging the auction notice issued by the District Collector for the sale of Prosopis juliflora, an invasive species.
2/5
2.The contention raised by the petitioner in this writ petition is that the invasive species are grown in the entire extent of water body, however, the respondents have reduced the extent of the affected area only for the purpose of helping some people.
3.We are of the view that the present Public Interest Litigation is not maintainable. It is also relevant to note that a Special Bench has been constituted to monitor the removal of Prosopis juliflora throughout the State, and series of directions have already been issued by the Division Bench in W.P. No.15120 of 2025. Further, two retired Judges of this Court have been appointed to monitor the implementation of the removal process.
4.In such view of the matter, we are not inclined to entertain this writ petition. 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.] 09.06.2026 Index :Yes/No Internet :Yes ta 3/5
To 1.The District Collector, Sivagangai Taluk, Sivagangai.
2.The Divisional Forest Officer, Social Forestry Division, No.13, Master Plan Campus, Sivagangai.
3.The Executive Engineer, Department of Water Resources, Sarugani River Basin Division, Sivagangai.
4.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Senthamil Nagar, Sivagangai.
5.The Tahsildar, Thirupuvanam Taluk, Sivagangai.
4/5
N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.
AND M.JOTHIRAMAN, J.
ta W.P.(MD)No.15390 of 2026 09.06.2026 5/5