M.Dharmalingam v. The Additional Chief Secretary
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 25.03.2026
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY and W.M.P.(MD)Nos.29283, 29284, 29285, 28229, 28230 & 28232 of 2026 W.P.(MD)No.35567 / 2025:- A.Mohammed Meera ... Petitioner -vs1.The Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, Environment,Climate Change and Forest Department, 2.The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Department), 3.The Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Project and Revenue), Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Department), 4.The Chief Conservator of Forests, Vellore Region, Vellore.
5.The Chief Conservator of Forests, Villupuram Region, Villupuram.
6.The Chief Conservator of Forests, Trichy Region, Trichy.
7.The Chief Conservator of Forests, Erode Region, Erode.
8.The Conservator of Forests, Chennai Region, 9.The Conservator of Forests, Dharmapuri Region, Dharmapuri.
10.The Conservator of Forests, Salem Region, Salem.
11.The Conservator of Forests, Dindigul Region, Dindigul.
12.The Conservator of Forests, Madurai Region, Madurai.
13.The Conservator of Forests, Sivagangai Region, Sivagangai.
... Respondents
Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records of the Impugned Circular issued by the second respondent in Circular in Ref No.SF1/7009/2025 dated 19.09.2025 and the consequential Impugned Proceedings issued by the 13th respondent in Na.Ka.No.2494/2025/L dated 28.11.2025 and quash the same as illegal and consequently direct the respondents to conduct the sale of Social Forestry Plantations (Babul /Prosopis) in Open Public Auction instead of the proposed sale of the same through e-auction MSTC platform. W.P.(MD)No.36840 / 2025:- M.Dharmalingam ... Petitioner -vs1.The Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, Environment,Climate Change and Forest Department, 2.The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Department), 3.The Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Project and Revenue), Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Department),
4.The Chief Conservator of Forests, Vellore Division, Vellore.
5.The Chief Conservator of Forests, Villupuram Division, Villupuram.
6.The Chief Conservator of Forests, Trichy Division, Trichy.
7.The Chief Conservator of Forests, Erode Division, Erode.
8.The Conservator of Forests, Chennai Division, 9.The Conservator of Forests, Dharmapuri Division, Dharmapuri.
10.The Conservator of Forests, Dindigul Division, Dindigul.
11.The Conservator of Forests, Madurai Division, Madurai.
12.The Conservator of Forests, Tirunelveli Division, Tirunelveli.
13.The Conservator of Forests, Virudhunagar Division, Virudhunagar.
... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records of the Impugned Circular issued by the second respondent in Circular in Ref No.SF1/7009/2025 dated 19.09.2025 and the consequential Impugned Proceedings issued by the 13th respondent in Na.Ka.No.1090/2025/L dated 02.12.2025 and quash the same as illegal and consequently direct the respondents to conduct the sale of Social Forestry Plantations (Babul /Prosopis) in Open Public Auction instead of the proposed sale of the same through e-auction MSTC platform. For Petitioners in both the W.Ps. : Mr.C.M.Arumugam For Respondents in both the W.Ps.: Mr.P.Thambidurai Government Advocate COMMON ORDER The learned counsel for the petitioners seeks permission of this Court to withdraw the writ petitions and he has also made an endorsement to that effect.
2. Recording the aforesaid submission and the endorsement made by the learned counsel for the petitioners, these Writ Petitions are dismissed as
withdrawn. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.
25.03.2026 smn2 To:- 1.The Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department, 2.The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Department), 3.The Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Project and Revenue), Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Department), 4.The Chief Conservator of Forests, Vellore Region, Vellore.
5.The Chief Conservator of Forests, Villupuram Region, Villupuram.
6.The Chief Conservator of Forests, Trichy Region, Trichy.
7.The Chief Conservator of Forests, Erode Region, Erode.
8.The Conservator of Forests, Chennai Region, 9.The Conservator of Forests, Dharmapuri Region, Dharmapuri.
10.The Conservator of Forests, Salem Region, Salem.
11.The Conservator of Forests, Dindigul Region, Dindigul.
12.The Conservator of Forests, Madurai Region, Madurai.
13.The Conservator of Forests, Sivagangai Region, Sivagangai.
14.The Chief Conservator of Forests, Vellore Division, Vellore.
15.The Chief Conservator of Forests, Villupuram Division, Villupuram.
16.The Chief Conservator of Forests, Trichy Division, Trichy.
17.The Chief Conservator of Forests, Erode Division, Erode.
18.The Conservator of Forests, Chennai Division, 19.The Conservator of Forests, Dharmapuri Division, Dharmapuri.
20.The Conservator of Forests, Dindigul Division, Dindigul.
21.The Conservator of Forests, Madurai Division, Madurai.
22.The Conservator of Forests, Tirunelveli Division, Tirunelveli.
23.The Conservator of Forests, Virudhunagar Division, Virudhunagar.
D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY , J.
smn2 Common order in 25.03.2026