Anthoniraj.J v. The Principal Secretary
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 11.11.2024 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.S.RAMESH and THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE A.D.MARIA CLETE and WMP(MD)No.20870 of 2022 J.Anthoniraj ... Petitioner vs.
1. The Principal Secretary, The Highways and Minor Ports Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.
2. The District Collector, Viruthunagar District, Viruthunagar.
3. The Chief Engineer, Project No.I, 1st Street, Perumalpuram, Tirunelveli - 627 007.
4. The Conservator of Forest, Virudhunagar Circle, District Collectorate Office Campus, Viruthunagar - 625 002.
5. The Wild Life Warden, Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, Opp. Aavin Milk, Madurai Road, Pillaiyarnatham Post, Srivilliputhur - 626 101, Page No.1 of 5
6. The Special District Revenue Officer / Land Acquisition Officer, Tamil Nadu Road Development Project-II, Tiruchirappalli, Trichy District.
7. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Sathur, Viruthunagar District.
8. The Tahsildar, Rajapalayam, ... Respondents Prayer : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to stop the project of widening the width of connecting road from 7 meters into 30 meters between SH 41 - Rajapalayam New bus stand and NH-744 - Rajapalayam Government Hospital to the stretch of 2 Kms, within the grizzled squirrel wildlife sanctuary Srivilliputhur, Viruthunagar District, on the basis of the petitioner's representation dated 03.11.2022.
For Petitioner : Mr.T.Indrachithu For Respondents : Mr.P.Thilakkumar, Government Pleader
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by M.S.RAMESH, J.) Apprehending that the widening of the connecting road from 7 meters into 30 meters between SH 41 - Rajapalayam New bus stand and NH-744 - Rajapalayam Government Hospital to the stretch of 2 Kms, would Page No.2 of 5
encroach upon the Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary at Srivilliputhur, Viruthunagar District, the present writ petition has been filed. 2.
The Wild Life Warden of Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, Srivilliputhur, Viruthunagar District / 5th respondent herein, has filed an affidavit dated 27.04.2023, in which, it is stated that the proposed link road is not located within the sanctuaries' Eco-Sensitive Zone and the starting point of the road is 5.54 km away and 3.5 km away from the Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuaries' Eco-Sensitive Zone boundary. As such, the apprehension of the petitioner itself is misconceived and hence, no interference is required to the prayer sought for in this writ petition.
3.
Accordingly, the Writ Petition stands dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. (M.S.R, J.) (A.D.M.C, J.) 11.11.2024 Index : Yes / No : Yes / No bala Page No.3 of 5
To
1. The Principal Secretary, The Highways and Minor Ports Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.
2. The District Collector, Viruthunagar District, Viruthunagar.
3. The Chief Engineer, Project No.I, 1st Street, Perumalpuram, Tirunelveli - 627 007.
4. The Conservator of Forest, Virudhunagar Circle, District Collectora te Office Campus, Viruthunagar - 625 002.
5. The Wild Life Warden, Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, Opp. Aavin Milk, Madurai Road, Pillaiyarnatham Post, Srivilliputhur - 626 101,
6. The Special District Revenue Officer / Land Acquisition Officer, Tamil Nadu Road Development Project-II, Tiruchirappalli, Trichy District.
7. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Sathur, Viruthunagar District.
8. The Tahsildar, Rajapalayam, Page No.4 of 5
M.S.RAMESH, J.
and A.D.MARIA CLETE, J.
bala ORDER MADE IN DATED : 11.11.2024 Page No.5 of 5