Nagarajan @ Vaigai Rajan v. Union Of India, Represented By The Principal Secretary,

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 18.06.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.B. BALAJI and W.M.P(MD)Nos.12461 & 12462 of 2026 Nagarajan @ Vaigai Rajan ... Petitioner vs.

1.Union of India, Represented by The Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran Bhavan, Ali Ganj, Jorbagh Road, New Delhi.

2.State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by The Principal Secretary, Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department, State Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai.

3.The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, 1/6

Forest Headquarters building, Guindy-Velachery Main Road, Near Kannikapuram Checkpost, Guindy, Chennai.

4.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Tirunelveli District.

5.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Tenkasi District.

6.The Field Director, Kalakad Mudunthurai Tiger Sanctuary, NGO Colony, Tirunelveli District.

7.The Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation (P) Ltd., Through its Group Manager, Majolai Estates, Ambasamuthiram Taluk, Tirunelveli District.

... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondent Nos.1 to 6 to remove the tea plantations and other invasive species from Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve at Survey No.251 of Zamin Singampatti Village Pat II, Singampatti Forest Block, Ambasamudram Taluk, Tirunelveli District and to take appropriate action to plant, nurture and preserve native trees in order to restore Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve areas to its original state in accordance with law.

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For Petitioner : Dr.R.Alagumani For R1 to R6 : Mr.C.Jeganathan Counsel for State

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.) The present Writ Petition has been filed seeking the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing Respondent Nos. 1 to 6 to remove the tea plantations and other invasive species from the area situated in Survey No. 251 of Zamin Singampatti Village Part II, Singampatti Forest Block, Ambasamudram Taluk, Tirunelveli District, within the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, and to take appropriate steps to plant, nurture, and preserve native tree species so as to restore the said area of the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve to its original ecological condition in accordance with law.

2. Though the writ petition has been filed with a laudable objective, an earlier order passed by the Division Bench of this Court in a batch of writ petitions in W.P.(MD) Nos.15001 of 2024 etc., directed that the lands leased out to BBTCL be restored to the Government and that the entire landscape be 3/6

maintained as Reserve Forest with its original forest cover. The said order of the Division Bench has already been upheld by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. Apart from this, several other directions have also been issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Civil Appeal Nos.6395-6397 of 2025, not only with respect to Manjolai but also in relation to other areas in Agasthiyamalai biosphere. The matter is presently posted on 01.09.2026 for filing of further compliance reports.

3. Since the order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India covers the relief sought by the petitioner in the present writ petition, no further directions are required in this matter.

4. Accordingly, the writ petition is closed. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are also closed. [N.S.K.,J.] [P.B.B.,J.] 18.06.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes am 4/6

To 1.The Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Union of India, Represented by Forest and Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran Bhavan, Ali Ganj, Jorbagh Road, New Delhi.

2.The Principal Secretary, Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department, State Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai.

3.The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Forest Headquarters building, Guindy-Velachery Main Road, Near Kannikapuram Checkpost, Guindy, Chennai.

4.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Tirunelveli District.

5.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Tenkasi District.

6.The Field Director, Kalakad Mudunthurai Tiger Sanctuary, NGO Colony, Tirunelveli District.

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N.SATHISH KUMAR , J.

and P.B.BALAJI,J.

am ORDER MADE IN DATED : 18.06.2026 6/6