In a public interest litigation, petitioner sought mandamus to stop tree cutting for road widening. The High Court rejected collateral challenges to the finalized auction and administrative necessity, dismissing the petition.
Petition dismissed; mandamus restraining tree cutting refused; no costs awarded.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 30.10.2018
CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE S.MANIKUMAR
AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SUBRAMONIUM PRASAD WP.No.27506 of 2018
P.Shanmugam ...Petitioner
vs.
WRIT Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for the issuance of a writ of Mandamus, forbearing the respondents from cutting of the trees on both the sides of Tirupattu-Alangayam State Highway road at the stretch between Kurisilapattu and Irunapattu Villages, Vanniyambadi Taluk, Vellore District.
For Petitioner : Mr.A.Suresh Sakthi Murugan For Respondents : Mr.E.Manoharan Additional Government Pleader
ORDER (Order of the Court was made by S.MANIKUMAR, J)
Claiming himself to be a public interest litigant, petitioner has sought for a mandamus, forbearing the respondents from cutting the trees on both the sides of Tirupattu-Alangayam State Highways road, at the stretch between Kurisilapattu and Irunapattu Villages, Vanniyambadi Taluk, Vellore District.
2. Supporting affidavit to the writ petition reads that Tirupattu-Alangayam is a State Highways road. There are 33 Tamarind trees on both sides of the above stretch of road between Kurisilapattu and Irunapattu Villages, Vanniyambadi Taluk, Vellore District. State Highways department has decided to widen the road. For the abovesaid purpose, trees were sought to be cut.
3. According to the petitioner, there was no need for widening of the road and consequentially cutting of trees. Petitioner has further contended that auction for cutting the trees, is cancelled. However, on 07.09.2018, Highways department conducted reauction for the disposal of trees.
4. According to the petitioner, officials of the Highways department have connived with local politicians and finalised
the auction for a meagre amount of Rs.2.15 Lakhs for cutting and removal of 33 Tamarind trees and because of the under valuation, there is a loss to the public exchequer.
5. Contending inter alia that as the District Co-ordinator of Makkal Paathai, fighting against corruption in Government departments, petitioner has sent a representation dated 10.09.2018 through 'Whatsapp' to the District Collector, Vellore District, the 1 st respondent and requested for cancellation.
6. Subsequently another representation dated 27.09.2018 has been sent through e-mail to the 1 st respondent. Public has also made a collective representation. Contending inter alia that the representations remained unanswered, instant writ petition has been filed.
7. On the above averments Mr.A.Suresh Sakthi Murugan, learned counsel for the petitioner made submissions. He submitted that when the writ petition came up on 16.10.2018, there was a oral direction to keep the matter in abeyance.
8. In response to the prayer sought for Mr.E.Manoharan, learned Additional Government Pleader submitted that on the date, when the writ petition came up for hearing, twenty out of thirty-three Tamarind trees were already cut and taking note of the oral directions, the remaining trees are not cut.
9. Learned Additional Government Pleader further submitted that traffic between Tirupattu-Alangayam road stretch is congested. Therefore, decision was taken by the Highways department to widen the road. Sub Collector, Thiruppathur and District Forest Officer, Thiruppathur, inspected the place, so as to enable granting permission to cut and remove, as well as for fixing value of each tree. Accordingly, reserve price was fixed at Rs.2,77,206/- and permission was granted by the District Collector, Vellore vide Proceedings in RC No.B3/2581/2018 dated 17.04.2018. Thereafter, paper publication was given for auction. There was no viable bidder. Therefore, auction was cancelled. In the subsequent auction conducted on 07.08.2018 for cutting and removal of 33 Tamarind trees, auction was finalized for Rs.3.89 Lakhs. Successful bidder was given permission to cut and remove the trees. About twenty trees were already cut and removed on the date of first hearing of the instant writ petition ie. 16.10.2018.
10. Learned Additional Government Pleader denied the averments made in paragraph No.4 of the affidavit and further submitted that there was no connivance of the Highways officials with local politicians. Cutting and removal of trees, is necessitated for widening of Tirupattu-Alangayam State Highways. For the reasons stated supra, he prayed for dismissal of the writ petition.
11. Heard the learned counsel for the parties and perused the materials available on record.
12. Though, petitioner has contended that there was no need for widening of road and consequential cutting and removal of trees, we are not inclined to accept the said contention for the reason that it is for the Highways department to consider as to whether there is any necessity for widening the road, due to traffic congestion or accident prone area and on the facts and circumstances, a decision has already been taken. Permission granted by the District Collector, Vellore, in RC No.B3/2581/2018 dated 17.04.2018, for cutting and removal of the trees is reproduced hereunder.
e/f/gp3-2581-2018 ehs ; 17/04/2018
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13. Contention of the petitioner that auction has been finalised for a meagre amount of Rs.2.15 Lakhs, for cutting and removal of 33 Tamarind trees is erroneous, even on facts, for the reason that as per the submission of the learned Additional Government Pleader, the final bid was for Rs.3.89 Lakhs. Allegations of connivance of the Highways Officials and local politicians is base less and not supported by any materials. Further, though allegations have been made that politicians and officials are involved, none has been arrayed as party in this writ petition.
14. Prayer for mandamus, forbearing the respondents from cutting the trees on both sides of the above stretch of roads between Kurisilapattu and Irunapattu Villages, Vanniyambadi Taluk, Vellore District, is nothing but a collateral challenge to the auction which had already been finalised. Mandamus cannot be issued, to set at naught, the auction proceedings and finalisation of the bid. Though reserve price was fixed as
Rs.2,77,206/-, bid has been finalised for Rs.3.89 Lakhs and there are absolutely no grounds to issue any mandamus, as prayed for. Hence, writ petition is dismissed. No Costs.
Sd/-
Assistant Registrar
//True Copy//
Sub Assistant Registrar
ars
To
1. The District Collector,
Vellore District,
Vellore.
2. The Assistant Engineer
Vanniyambadi Sub Division,
Highways Department,
Vellore District.
+1cc to Mr.A.Suresh Sakthi Murugan, Advocate, S.R.No.74837
+1cc to the Government Pleader, S.R.No.74847
WP.No.27506 of 2018
BR(CO)
rrs 26/11/2018
3 issues framed by the court
Whether mandamus can issue to restrain tree cutting required for road widening
Whether petitioner's allegations of corruption affect validity of auction finalized for tree removal
Whether writ jurisdiction lies to interfere with administrative decision on road widening
2 provisions across 2 enactments
P. Shanmugam
District Collector, Vellore District
Assistant Engineer, Vanniyambadi Sub Division
S. Manikumar
Subramonium Prasad
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
