R.Ranvindran v. The District Collector

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 04.12.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI and W.M.P.(MD)No.27451 of 2025 R.Ravindran ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The District Collector, 2.The District Revenue Officer, 3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Tiiruchendur Division, 4.The Tahsildar, 5.The Executive Engineer, Water Resources Department, 6.The Village Administrative Officer, Iruvappuram-I Village, 1/6

7.Executive Officer, Sawyerpuram Town Panchayat, ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to remove the constructed portion from the tank bund and restore the bund of the "Peikulam Tank" situated in S.No.4, Iruvappuram -1 Village, Eral Taluk. Thoothukudi District measuring 127 Hectare, 18.52 Ares to its original position based on the representations of the petitioner dated 10-10-2025 and 11-11-2025. For Petitioner : Mr.R.Suriya For Respondents : Mr.M.Siddharthan, Addl. Government Pleader.

ORDER

Heard both sides.

2.The writ petitioner is a permanent resident of Sivathaiyapuram, Thoothukudi District. He wants this Court to restrain the respondents 2/6

from putting up any construction in S.No.4, Iruvappuram - 1 Village, Eral Taluk. His further request is that whatever has been constructed should also been removed.

3.When the writ petition was taken up for disposal, the learned Additional Government Pleader on instructions from the concerned officials confirmed that S.No.4 has been classified as a water body and that it measures over 127 hectares. The learned Additional Government Pleader submitted that this Court may condone the act committed by the authorities since it is in public interest. A fair price shop is under construction. He also pointed out that in the vicinity, there are other government buildings.

4.Invocation of public interest does not impresses us. We have been consistently holding that the integrity of water bodies should not be tinkered with. When the classification of S.No.4, Iruvappuram - 1 Village, Eral Taluk is not in doubt, then, we cannot be turn a blind eye to what has happened. The authorities are restrained from carrying of any further construction. Whatever construction has already been put up, 3/6

they shall be dismantled. The debris shall also be removed. The tank bund shall be restored to its original condition. This exercise shall be completed within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

5.This writ petition is allowed accordingly. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. (G.R.S.J.,) & (B.P.J.,) 04.12.2025 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No ias To:- 1.The District Collector, 2.The District Revenue Officer, 3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Tiiruchendur Division, 4/6

4.The Tahsildar, 5.The Executive Engineer, Water Resources Department, 6.The Village Administrative Officer, Iruvappuram-I Village, 7.Executive Officer, Sawyerpuram Town Panchayat, 5/6

G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.

and B.PUGALENDHI, J.

ias 04.12.2025 6/6