P.Senthil v. The District Collector

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 05.12.2025 CORAM :

THE HON`BLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI P.Senthil ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The District Collector, Dindigul District, Dindigul.

2.The District Forest Officer, Dindigul District, Dindigul.

3.The Forest Ranger, Batlakundu Zone, Thandikudi Road, Sitharevu Village, Athtur Taluk, Dindigul District.

... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for the issuance of Writ of Mandamus, to direct the second and third respondent herein to issue origin certificate 1/6

to the petitioner to remove the trees lying in the petitioner's lands in S.Nos.5/1, 5/5, 6/1, 9/2, 12/1, 23, 24 & 25/1 in Kamanur Village, Kodaikanal Taluk, Dindigul District within the time limit as stipulated by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.K.Hemakarthikeyan For Respondents : Mr.K.Balasubramanian, Special Government Pleader.

ORDER

The petitioner has approached this Court seeking a Mandamus directing the second and third respondents to issue a origin certificate to the petitioner to remove the trees lying in the petitioner's lands in S.Nos.5/1, 5/5, 6/1, 9/2, 12/1, 23, 24 & 25/1 in Kamanur Village, Kodaikanal Taluk, Dindigul District. 2.The petitioner claims that he is having lands in Kamnur village, Kodaikanal Taluk, Dindigul District and there are 1294 silver oak trees and other trees. The petitioner has made a request 2/6

to the first respondent to cut and remove trees from his land and the same has been granted by the first respondent based on the recommendations of the District Hill Areas (Preservation of Trees) Committee. The first respondent while granting permission has also imposed certain conditions. One of the condition is that the petitioner has to cut and remove the tress within a period of 12 months. Yet another condition is that the petitioner has to obtain origin certificate from the third respondent and therefore, the petitioner has applied for the same. However, the same has not been considered and therefore, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition.

3.The learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents submits that the petitioner's lands are situated adjacent to the reserved forest and taking advantage of the order of the first respondent, the petitioner appears to have cut and remove some of the trees from forest area. Therefore, the District Forest Officer contemplated an enquiry and depending upon the 3/6

outcome of the enquiry, the request of the petitioner for origin certificate would be considered. According to him, the enquiry would be completed in two weeks.

4.Recording the above submission, this writ petition is closed with a direction to the second and third respondents to conduct the enquiry in a proper manner and thereafter take a decision, within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs.

05.12.2025 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes/No Internet:Yes gns 4/6

To 1.The District Collector, Dindigul District, Dindigul.

2.The District Forest Officer, Dindigul District, Dindigul.

3.The Forest Ranger, Batlakundu Zone, Thandikudi Road, Sitharevu Village, Athtur Taluk, Dindigul District.

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