Ramesh v. The District Collector

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 23.06.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR and W.M.P.(MD)No.12829 of 2026 1.Ramesh 2.Muniappan 3.Rajesh 4.Ravi 5.Mohan 6.Vijayakumar ... Petitioners vs.

1.The District Collector, Pudukkottai District.

2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Aranthangi, Pudukkottai District.

3.The Assistant Director, Fisheries and Fisherman Welfare, Pudukkottai District.

4.The Tashildar, Avudaiyarkovil, Pudukkottai District.

5.The Block Development Officer, Avudaiyarkovil, Pudukkottai District.

... Respondents 1/6

PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, to forbear the respondents from interfering with the right of the fisherman of Mimisal, R.Pudhupattinam Village in selling their fishes (Property) to any other person of their choice in light of his representation dated 08.06.2026. For Petitioners :Mr.R.Niresh Kumar For R1 to R4 :Mr.M.Mahaboob Athiff Government Advocate For R5 :Mrs.K.R.Shivashankari Government Advocate *****

O R D E R

The petitioners, who are fishermen by occupation, have filed the present writ petition seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus to forbear the respondents from interfering with their right to sell the fish caught by them to any person of their choice, in the light of their representation dated 08.06.2026.

2. Heard Mr. R. Niresh Kumar, learned counsel for the petitioners, Mr. M. Mahaboob Athiff, learned Government Advocate, who accepts notice on behalf of respondents 1 to 4, and Mrs. K.R. Shivashankari, learned Government Advocate, who accepts notice on behalf of the fifth respondent.

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3. The petitioners submit that they are engaged in deep-sea fishing and, after catching fish, they sell their catch to purchasers of their choice. According to them, the respondents, by referring to the proceedings of the District Collector dated 14.01.2026, are preventing them from selling their catch to third parties.

1. The learned Government Advocate appearing for respondents 1 to 4 submitted that the proceedings dated 14.01.2026 do not prohibit the petitioners from selling their catch to any person of their choice. He further submitted that the said proceedings have already been upheld by this Court in W.P.(MD) No.3238 of 2026 and the said order has been confirmed by the Hon'ble Division Bench in W.A.(MD) No.570 of 2026. According to the learned Government Advocate, the petitioners' apprehension that they are prohibited from selling their catch to third parties is unfounded. However, since the petitioners allege that the respondents are interfering with their right to sell their catch, he submitted that the petitioners' representation would be considered in accordance with law. 3/6

2.

5. In view of the above submission, the writ petition stands disposed of with a direction to the first respondent to consider the petitioners' representation dated 08.06.2026, on its own merits and in accordance with law, and pass appropriate orders within a period of four

(4) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

6. It is made clear that the respondents shall not interfere with the petitioners' traditional right to sell their catch except in accordance with due process of law. However, this order shall not be construed as interfering with the proceedings dated 14.01.2026 issued by the District Collector regarding the collection of fees in the fish market through public auction.

7. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

Index :Yes / No 23.06.2026 NCC :Yes / No (1/2) 4/6

cmr To 1.The District Collector, Pudukkottai District.

2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Aranthangi, Pudukkottai District.

3.The Assistant Director, Fisheries and Fisherman Welfare, Pudukkottai District.

4.The Tashildar, Avudaiyarkovil, Pudukkottai District.

5.The Block Development Officer, Avudaiyarkovil, Pudukkottai District.

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HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.

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