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M.Govindasamy v. the District Collector

Madras HC13 Oct 2025WP/20861/2023

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Parambikulam Aliyar Project; PAP Scheme; PAP Water canal; prohibited distance; well measurement; Taluk Surveyor; joint field inspection; electricity connection disconnection; agricultural electricity service connection; TANGEDCO; Assistant Engineer Olapalayam; natural justice; non-service of order copy; writ of certiorari; Article 226; Ayakkatdhar; Tiruppur; Kangeyam; Dharapuram; eight weeks; Madras High Court; common order; WP Nos. 20861 & 20650 of 2023; WMP.Nos. 20234 & 20016 of 2023; M.Dhandapani J.; 13-10-2025.

What did the court decide?

Writ petitions disposed of with directions: impugned disconnection orders set aside; joint field inspection to be conducted in presence of the petitioners after notice; Electricity Board to pass orders on merits and in accordance with law within eight weeks; no costs; connected miscellaneous petitions closed.

M.Govindasamy Vs the District Collector — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the impugned orders of the 5th respondent disconnecting the electricity supply to the petitioners' agricultural land, allegedly passed without service of copies on the petitioners, are liable to be set aside as violative of law and principles of natural justice. +1 more

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Court's answer

The impugned orders disconnecting the electricity connection to the petitioners' land are set aside.

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Ratio / Principle

The respondents are directed to conduct a joint field inspection in presence of the petitioners, after issuing notice to the petitioners.

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Key takeaways

After the joint field inspection, the Electricity Board may pass fresh orders on merits and in accordance with law, within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.ratio¶45-46

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Judicature at Madras (M.Dhandapani, J.) — Common order, 13-10-2025, disposing WP Nos. 20861 & 20650 of 2023 (with connected WMP.Nos. 20234 & 20016 of 2023), filed under Article 226 by M.Govindasamy and Thirumoorthy, owners of subject property and Ayakkatdhars of the Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP), holding agricultural electricity service connections obtained for irrigation. By orders dated 13.04.2023 and 17.04.2023, the 5th respondent (Assistant Engineer, Operation and Maintenance, TANGEDCO, Olapalayam) disconnected the supply on the ground that the petitioners' wells lay within the prohibited distance from the PAP Water canal, without serving copies of the orders on the petitioners, in alleged violation of law and natural justice. Setting aside the impugned orders, the Court directed the respondents to conduct a joint field inspection in the petitioners' presence after issuing notice to them, following which the Electricity Board may pass orders on merits and in accordance with law within eight weeks of receipt of a copy of the order. No costs; connected miscellaneous petitions closed.

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WP Nos. 20861 & 20650 of 2023

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 13-10-2025

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI

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WP Nos. 20861 & 20650 of 2023

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and

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WMP.Nos. 20234 & 20016 of 2023

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M.Govindasamy ... Petitioner in W.P.No.20861 of 2023

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Thirumoorthy ... Petitioner in W.P.No. 20650 of 2023

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Vs.

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The District Collector Tiruppur, Tiruppur District.

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2.The Revene Divisional Officer /

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Head Of Joint Field Inspection Committee, Parambikulam Aliyar Project, Dharapuram, Tiruppur District.

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3.The Assistant Executive Engineer Public Welfare Department (WRO), Kangeyam Sub Division, Tiruppur District.

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4.The Exectutive Engineer Operation And Maintenance, Tamil Nadu Generation Distribution Corporation Limited, Kangeyam, Tiruppur District.

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

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WP Nos. 20861 & 20650 of 2023

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5.The Assistant Engineer Operation And Maintenance, Tamil Nadu Generation Distribution Corporation Limited, Olapalayam, Tiruppur Distirct.

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6.The Tahsildar,

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Kangeyam, Tiruppur District.

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Respondents in both petitions

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Prayer in WP.No.20861 of 2023:- Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking issuance of Writ of Certiorari, call for the records of order dated 13.04.2023 in Proceedings No. Ka.No.UMIPublic / West / Va.Ko / Ko.Thani /A.No. 010/ 2023 on the file of 5th respondent and quash the same.

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Prayer in WP.No.20650 of 2023:- Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking issuance of Writ of Certiorari, call for the records of order dated 17.04.2023 in Proceedings No. Ka.No.UMIPublic / West / Va.Ko / Ko.Thani /A.No. 06/ 2023 on the file of 5th respondent and quash the same.

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For Petitioner(s): Mr.K.Myilsamy in both petitions For Respondent(s): Mr.M.Rajendiran Additional Government Pleader for R1 to R3 & R6 Mr. L. Jaivenkatesh, Standing Counsel for R4 & R5

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

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WP Nos. 20861 & 20650 of 2023

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COMMON ORDER

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These Writ Petitions have been filed, challenging impugned orders passed

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by the 5th respondent, disconnecting the electricity connection to the petitioners'

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land.

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The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that the

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petitioners are the owners of the subject property and they are Ayakkatdhars of Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP Project). The petitioners claim that for the purpose of irrigation, they obtained electricity service connection from the

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respondents. However, all of sudden, the 5th respondent passed impugned orders dated 13.04.2023 & 17.04.2023 for disconnection of the electricity connection to the petitioners' agricultural land on the ground that the well was

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situated within the prohibited distances from the PAP Water canal.

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The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners would submit that the

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impugned orders were passed without even serving copy of the order to the petitioners and the same is in violation of law and principles of natural justice.

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The learned counsel for the petitioners would further submit that this Court may

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

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WP Nos. 20861 & 20650 of 2023

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issue a direction to the Taluk Surveyor to measure the petitioners Well from PAP

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Canal in presence of the petitioners as well as the Electricity Board Officials including PWD Officials of PAP Canal and thereafter, the Electricity Board may pass orders in terms of the PAP Scheme.

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In view of the same, the impugned orders are set aside. However, there

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shall be a direction to the respondents to conduct a joint field inspection in presence of the petitioners, after issuing notice to the petitioners and thereafter,

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the Electricity Board may pass orders on merits and in accordance with law,

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within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

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