Natarajan v. The District Collector / Monitoring Committee
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 27.11.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI and W.M.P.(MD)No.27310 of 2025 Natarajan ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The District Collector / Monitoring Committee Collectorate, Pudukkottai District.
2.The Superintendent of Police, O/o. Superintendent of Police, Pattukottai District.
3.The Chief Engineer, Kallanaikalvai Division, Thanjavur.
4.The Assistant Executive Engineer, Kallanai Kalvai Division, Peravurani Taluk, Thanjavur.
5.The Assistant Engineer, Kallanai Kalvai Division, Nagudi No.2 Section, Pudukkottai District.
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6.The Assistant Engineer, Water Resources Department, Aranthangi Taluk, Pudukkottai District.
7.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Aranthangi Taluk, Pudukkottai District.
8.The Tahsildar, Taluk Office, Avudaiyarkovil Taluk, Avudaiyarkovil, Pudukkottai District.
9.The Sub Inspector, Nagudi Police Station, Pudukkottai.
10.Karuppaiah Ambalam 11.Kalanthar 12.Muthukrishnan 13.Palanimurugan 14.Sanmugam 15.Subramaniyan ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 2/8
respondents 1 to 8 to remove the encroachments made by the private respondents 10 to 15 in S.F.No.6/6 with an extent 4.06.5, S.F.No.14/6 with an extent 0.14 Ares, S.F.No.4/4 with an extent 0.28.5 Ares, S.F.No.8/6 with an extent 0.09.5, S.F.No.9/1 with an extent 0.35.5, S.F.No.10/1 with an extent 0.28.5, S.F.No.11/11 with an extent 5.07 and 12/12 with an extent 4.23.5 river S.F.No.15/4 with an extent 0.12 Ares S.F.No.15/6 with an extent 1 Ares, S.F.No.16/2 Ares, S.F.No.16/6 and, 16/7 with an extent 2.11 Ares, S.F.No.19/19, 19/20 19/21 with an extent 5 Hctres 16Ares, SF.No.24/24 with an extent of 1 Acer 64 Ares and SF.No.25/25 with an extent of 4 Hectare 51 Ares and direct the respondents 1 to 8 to close the illegal sluices in the Vathathur Eri to irrigating the aforesaid non Aaycut lands of Vathathur Eri especially government poromboke bodies water under the encroachment of private respondents and dry lands of Poovalur, Utkadai Bavani Ambalpuram Village, Aavudaiyarkovil Taluk, Pudukkottai District. For Petitioner : Mr.R.Paranjothi, For M/s.KBS Law Office.
For Respondents : Mr.C.Venkatesh Kumar, Spl. Government Pleader for R1 to R9.
ORDER
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Heard the learned counsel for the writ petitioner and the learned Special Government Pleader for the respondents 1 to 9. 2.The writ petitioner is a resident of Perumathur. His grievance is that on account of encroachment made on the petition mentioned water body, the petitioner's right to receive water has been affected. 3.It appears that the encroachers have brought the bed of the water body to cultivation.
4.When the matter was taken up for hearing, the learned Special Government Pleader on written instructions from the jurisdictional Tahsildar as well as the Assistant Engineer, Water Resources Department submits that an agreement has been entered into to the effect that after the harvest is over, the original position of the water body will be restored.
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5.We call upon the official respondents to obtain specific undertaking from the encroachers that they should not only clear the encroachments but also restore the original position. If they fail to do so, suitable surcharge action has to be taken against them. Under no circumstances, the time limit of three months granted here will be extended. We reiterate that all the official respondents are responsible for ensuring that the encroachments are cleared at the end of the three months period. It is the duty of the authorities to ensure that such encroachments do not recur in future.
6.This writ petition is allowed on these terms. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. (G.R.S.J.,) & (B.P.J.,) 27.11.2025 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No ias To:- 5/8
1.The District Collector / Monitoring Committee Collectorate, Pudukkottai District.
2.The Superintendent of Police, O/o. Superintendent of Police, Pattukottai District.
3.The Chief Engineer, Kallanaikalvai Division, Thanjavur.
4.The Assistant Executive Engineer, Kallanai Kalvai Division, Peravurani Taluk, Thanjavur.
5.The Assistant Engineer, Kallanai Kalvai Division, Nagudi No.2 Section, Pudukkottai District.
6.The Assistant Engineer, Water Resources Department, Aranthangi Taluk, Pudukkottai District.
7.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Aranthangi Taluk, Pudukkottai District.
8.The Tahsildar, Taluk Office, Avudaiyarkovil Taluk, Avudaiyarkovil, Pudukkottai District.
9.The Sub Inspector, 6/8
Nagudi Police Station, Pudukkottai.
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G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.
and B.PUGALENDHI, J.
ias 27.11.2025 8/8