Muthupandi v. The District Collector / Monitoring Committee
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 22.01.2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI W.P(MD)No.29511 of 2025 & W.M.P.(MD)Nos.22817 & 22818 of 2025 Muthupandi ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The District Collector / Monitoring Committee, Madurai District, Madurai.
2.The Tahsildar, Melur Taluk, Madurai District.
3.The Assistant Engineer, Public Works Department / Water Irrigation Department, Periyar Prime Channel Branch No.II, Idayapatti, Madurai District.
4.Ganesan 5.Baskaran 6.Surendranath ... Respondents 1/5
Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondents 1 to 3 to remove the encroachment made by the respondents 4 to 6 in Periyakanmai comprised in S.No.80, Poonjuthi Village, Melur Taluk, Madurai District and further, direct the third respondent to construct a bund on the northern boundary of Periyakanmai by considering the representation dated 25.04.2025. For Petitioner :Mr.T.Leninkumar For Respondents :Mr.C.Venkatesh Kumar Special Government Pleader for R1 to R3 : Mr.M.Rajarajan for R4 to R6
ORDER
Heard the learned counsel on either side.
2. Muthupandi is a resident of Melur Taluk. He filed this writ petition complaining that the private respondents have committed encroachment in S.No.80, Poonjuthi Village. He wants the same to be removed. A further direction for constructing the bund on the northern boundary of the petition mentioned water body has also been sought. 2/5
3. When the matter was taken up for admission on the last occasion, the learned counsel appearing for the fifth respondent asserts that fifth respondent has nothing to do with S.No.80. But it is the petitioner who is an encroacher. We directed the learned Special Government Pleader to obtain instructions from the jurisdictional Tahsildar.
4. Today, the Tahsildar, Melur had given written instructions that the petitioner herein had committed encroachment on the water body in S.No.139 which measures an extent of 2.24.0 hectares. In the said communication dated 12.11.2025, the Tahsildar has also itemized the encroachments in various water bodies and in various survey numbers in the said village.
5. We direct the authorities 2 & 3 to forthwith clear all the encroachments mentioned in the Tahsildar's communication dated 12.11.2025. This shall be done as expeditiously as possible and of-course, preferably within a period of three months. It is needless to mention that the procedure prescribed by us such as giving of notice to the encroachers will have to be complied with.
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6. The writ petition is disposed of accordingly. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. [G.R.S., J.] [B.P., J.] 22.01.2026 NCC : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No Index : Yes / No rmi To 1.The District Collector / Monitoring Committee, Madurai District, Madurai.
2.The Tahsildar, Melur Taluk, Madurai District.
3.The Assistant Engineer, Public Works Department / Water Irrigation Department, Periyar Prime Channel Branch No.II, Idayapatti, Madurai District.
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G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J and B.PUGALENDHI, J.
rmi W.P(MD)No.29511 of 2025 22.01.2026 5/5