T.Raja v. The District Collector / Chairperson

1 W.P.(MD)NO.25816 OF 2025 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 18.09.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI W.P.(MD)No.25816 of 2025 T.Raja ... Petitioner Vs.

1. The District Collector / Chairperson, District Monitoring Committee, Collectorate Building, Tenkasi District.

2. The Revenue Divisional Officer / Chairperson, Divisional Monitoring Committee, Sankarankovil Division, Tenkasi District.

3. The Tahsildar / Member, Divisional Monitoring Committee, Sankarankovil Taluk, Tenkasi District.

4. The Meenakshipuram Village Panchayat, Rep. through its Special Officer / Block Development Officer, Rajapalayam Panchayat Union,

5. The Mangudi Village Panchayat, Rep. through its Village President, Sankarankovil Panchayat Union, Tenkasi District.

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2 W.P.(MD)NO.25816 OF 2025

6. The Tahsildar, Rajapalayam Taluk, (R-6 is suo motu impleaded vide order dated 18.09.2025.) ... Respondents Prayer: Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, issuing a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondents 1 to 3 to remove all the encroachments made in Mangudi Kanmai in S.No.38/1 to the extent of 19.380 Hec (47.88 Acres) situated in Mangudi Village, Sankarankovil Taluk, Thenkasi District by considering the representation of the petitioner dated 19.02.2025 within a time frame as fixed by this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.R.Gowrishankar For Respondents : Mr.C.Venkatesh Kumar, Special Government Pleader for R-1 to R-3& R-6.

Mr.G.V.Vairam Santhosh, Additional Government Pleader for R-4 & R-5.

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O R D E R

Heard both sides.

2. It is not in dispute that survey No.38/1 Mangudi Village, 2/

3 W.P.(MD)NO.25816 OF 2025 Sankarankovil Taluk is a water body. It appears that the boundaries of the said water body also extend to Meenakshipuram Village, Rajapalayam Taluk. The petitioner who is a resident of Mangudi Village alleges that there are encroachments in the petitionmentioned water body.

3. The Tahsildar, Sankarankovil Taluk as well as the the Tahsildar, Rajapalayam Taluk are directed to coordinate with each other and issue notices to all the interested persons and conduct survey and if the encroachments are noticed, then by adhering to due process of law, the encroachments shall be removed. The entire exercise will be completed within a period of four months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. This writ petition stands disposed of accordingly. No costs.

(G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.) & (B.PUGALENDHI, J.) 18th September 2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No PMU 3/

4 W.P.(MD)NO.25816 OF 2025 To:

1. The District Collector / Chairperson, District Monitoring Committee, Collectorate Building, Tenkasi District.

2. The Revenue Divisional Officer / Chairperson, Divisional Monitoring Committee, Sankarankovil Division, Tenkasi District.

3. The Tahsildar / Member, Divisional Monitoring Committee, Sankarankovil Taluk, Tenkasi District.

4. The Meenakshipuram Village Panchayat, Rep. through its Special Officer / Block Development Officer, Rajapalayam Panchayat Union,

5. The Mangudi Village Panchayat, Rep. through its Village President, Sankarankovil Panchayat Union, Tenkasi District.

6. The Tahsildar, Rajapalayam Taluk, 4/

5 W.P.(MD)NO.25816 OF 2025 G.R.SWAMINATHAN,J.

AND B.PUGALENDHI, J.

PMU W.P.(MD)No.25816 of 2025 18.09.2025 5/