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V.Raghuraman and Another v. Savithiri

Madras HC24 Apr 2025CONT P/756/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Madras High Court contempt petition disposed with directions; Section 11 Contempt of Courts Act; willful disobedience of order dated 08.03.2024 in W.P.No.6167 of 2024; police protection; fencing of property in Survey Nos.40/2 to 40/5; pathway on right side of Kuppusamy's property in Survey No.39/5; patta land objection; fruits of decree confirmed till Apex Court; Tahsildar suo motu impleaded 28.03.2025; C.R.P.No.1284 of 2025 stay dated 01.04.2025; access like others; law and order action.

What did the court decide?

Direction to the respondents to ensure the petitioner is permitted access to the pathway like others, and to initiate action in accordance with law against any person creating a law and order problem. ¶49

V.Raghuraman and Another Vs Savithiri — Contempt of Court | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the respondent willfully disobeyed the order dated 08.03.2024 made in W.P.No.6167 of 2024 so as to be punished for contempt under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act. +1 more

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Court's answer

On the grievance of willful disobedience, the Court disposed of the contempt petition with the above direction rather than imposing punishment.

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Ratio / Principle

If others are having access to the pathway on the right side of Kuppusamy's property in Survey No.39/5, the petitioner alone cannot be prevented from using it.

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Key takeaways

Preventing the petitioner alone from the pathway, while others use it, virtually amounts to depriving him of the fruits of the decree that has become final.ratio¶48
The respondents shall ensure that the petitioner is permitted access like others, and if any law and order problem is created, action shall be initiated against the concerned person in accordance with law.ratio¶48

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Contempt petition under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act alleging willful disobedience of the order dated 08.03.2024 in W.P.No.6167 of 2024, whereby police protection was sought to enable the petitioner to fence his property in Survey Nos.40/2 to 40/5, pursuant to a civil Court decree confirmed till the Apex Court and an Execution Court order delivering possession. The Tahsildar, suo motu impleaded, reported that one Kuppusamy (property in Survey No.39/5) resisted the petitioner's use of the pathway running through his patta land. Held: the petitioner's property is accessible only through the pathway on the right side of Kuppusamy's property, which photographs showed was used by big vehicles; if others have access, the petitioner alone cannot be barred, and doing so would deprive him of the fruits of a final decree. Respondents directed to secure his access like others and to proceed against anyone creating a law and order problem. Petition disposed of accordingly (N. Anand Venkatesh, J.).

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Contempt Petition No.756 of 2025

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 24.04.2025

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.ANAND VENKATESH

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Contempt Petition No.756 of 2025

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V.Raghuraman S/o of Late.K.Veerabaran represented by Power Agent A.Raja @ Rajaram Son of K.Arumugam, Door No.4/1B, Samuvel Street, Ranipet, Attur Town and Taluk, Salem District.

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Petitioner

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Savithiri

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The Inspector of Police, Thalaivasal Police Station, Salem District.

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2.The Tahsildar, Thalaivasal Taluk, Salem District. (Suo Motu impleaded as 2nd Respondent as per the order of this Court made in Cont.P.No.756 of 2025, dated 28.03.2025)

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Respondents

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Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act praying to punish the respondent herein for contempt for willfully disobeying the order dated 08.03.2024 made in W.P.No.6167 of 2024.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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Contempt Petition No.756 of 2025

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For Petitioner	: Mr.M.Guruprasad
For Respondents	: Mr.V.J.Priyadarsana
	Government Advocate [Crl.side] [R1]
	Mr.P.Sathish
	Additional Government Pleader [R2] *****

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O R D E R

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Pursuant to the earlier order passed on 22.04.2025, the matter

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was listed for hearing today.

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This contempt petition has been filed to punish the

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respondent herein for contempt for willfully disobeying the order dated 08.03.2024 made in W.P.No.6167 of 2024.

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Heard Mr.M.Guruprasad, learned counsel for petitioner, Mr.V.J.Priyadarsana, learned Government Advocate [Crl.side] appearing

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for first respondent and Mr.P.Sathish, learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for second respondent.

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When the order was passed in the writ petition, this Court

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took into consideration the decree passed by the competent civil Court,

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which was confirmed till the Apex Court and also the order passed by the

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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Contempt Petition No.756 of 2025

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Execution Court delivering possession of the property. The petitioner wanted to fence this property in Survey Nos.40/2 to 40/5. The same was prevented and therefore, the petitioner sought for police protection in order to have access to his property.

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When the case came up for hearing on 22.04.2025, a status report was filed by the second respondent, who was suo motu impleaded in this contempt petition on 28.03.2025. In the status report, it is stated that one Kuppusamy, who is having property in Survey No.39/5 is objecting the petitioner from utilizing the path since it runs through his patta land.

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Learned Government Advocate appearing on behalf of the

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first respondent submitted that since there was resistance on the part of Kuppusamy, the police was not able to provide police protection in order to enable the petitioner to fence his property.

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In the light of the above stand taken by the respondents, this Court directed the learned counsel for petitioner to take instructions.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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Contempt Petition No.756 of 2025

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When the matter was taken up for hearing today, learned counsel for the petitioner produced the relevant documents in order to understand the topography of this place. The property belonging to the petitioner in Survey Nos.40/2 to 40/5 can be accessed from the northern side only through the pathway that is available on the right side of the property belonging to Kuppusamy in Survey No.39/5. If this pathway is

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not accessable, neither Kuppusamy nor those land owners, who are having lands near the property belonging to Kuppusamy can have access to their lands.

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The specific case of the petitioner is that the persons, who lost before the civil Court, have now set up the said Kuppusamy and are preventing the petitioner from having access to the property in Survey Nos.40/2 to 40/5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that an attempt was made to reopen the issue by filing yet another suit and C.R.P.No.1284 of 2025 has been filed before this Court to strike off the plaint and the said revision has been entertained and the proceedings in the suit has been stayed by an order dated 01.04.2025.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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Contempt Petition No.756 of 2025

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The photographs, which have been produced before this

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Court, shows that the pathway that is available on the right hand side of the property belonging to Kuppusamy in Survey No.39/5 is used for movement of big vehicles. If that is the case, it is not known as to how the petitioner alone can be prevented from having access to the pathway.

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In view of the above, the respondents shall ensure that if others are having access to the pathway that is available on the right side of the property belonging to Kuppusamy in Survey No.39/5, the petitioner alone cannot be prevented. If that is prevented, it virtually amounts to depriving the petitioner the fruits of the decree that has become final. Hence, the respondents shall ensure that the petitioner is permitted to have access like others and if any law and order problem is created, action shall be initiated against the concerned person in accordance with law.

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This contempt petition is disposed of with the above direction.

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24.04.2025

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Neutral Citation: Yes/No Index: Yes/no Speaking Order/Non-Speaking Order gm

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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Contempt Petition No.756 of 2025