Dismissed¶33

Arunachalam v. the Union of India

Madras HC24 Sept 2025WP/31291/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Madras High Court writ petition dismissed; W.P.No.31291 of 2025; Justice Krishnan Ramasamy; mandamus under Article 226; National Highways tollgate plaza, elevated weigh bridge and barricades; relocation of toll plaza sought via representation dated 29.04.2025; obstruction of access to Sri Edayanur Mariyamman Temple, Elachur village, Karapattu Post, Uthangarai Taluk, Krishnagiri District; alternative pathway approximately 150 meters provided; land acquisition by Competent Authority/Land Acquisition Authority NHAI Vellore; grievance held trivial; no costs.

What did the court decide?

The Court held that the petitioner's grievance does not merit consideration because the Government constructed the Toll gate Plaza, Elevated Weigh Bridge and Barricades after providing a pathway for worshippers to reach the Temple. ¶29

Arunachalam Vs the Union of India — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Dismissed

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Issue for consideration

Whether mandamus should issue directing the respondents to consider the petitioner's representation dated 29.04.2025 and shift the tollgate, elevated weigh bridge and barricades installed in front of the way to Sri Edayanur Mariyamman Temple so as not to obstruct access to the school and Temple.

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Court's answer

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Ratio / Principle

Merely because the provided pathway creates a roundabout route approximately 150 meters from the Toll gate Plaza, Elevated Weigh Bridge and Barricades is not a ground for re-shifting them to some other place.

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Key takeaways

The petitioner cannot seek relocation of the Tollgate Plaza, Elevated Weigh Bridge and barricades, which were constructed in the interest of passers-by at the place as a whole; finding no merit, the Court dismissed the writ petition with no costs.ratio¶33

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (Krishnan Ramasamy, J.), W.P.No.31291 of 2025, decided 24.09.2025: Petitioner sought a writ of mandamus under Article 226 directing the Union of India/National Highways authorities to consider his representation dated 29.04.2025 and to relocate the Tollgate Plaza, Elevated Weigh Bridge and barricades erected in front of the way to Sri Edayanur Mariyamman Temple, Elachur village, Uthangarai Taluk, Krishnagiri District, on the ground that devotees' access to the Temple was obstructed. The Court held that the constructions were made after providing a pathway to worshippers; that the pathway being a roundabout approximately 150 meters from the Toll gate Plaza could not be a ground for re-shifting the structures for such a trivial reason; and that the structures were built in the interest of passers-by as a whole. Writ petition dismissed. No costs.

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W.P.No.31291 of 2025

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED :24.09.2025 Coram

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The Honourable Mr.Justice Krishnan Ramasamy

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W.P.No.31291 of 2025

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ARUNACHALAM

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Vs.

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1 THE UNION OF INDIA

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REP BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT OF INDIA NATIONAL HIGHWAYS, NEW DELHI.

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2 THE JOINT ENGINEER, DIVISIONAL OFFICE, NATIONAL HIGHWAYS VELLORE DIVISION, VELLORE DISTRICT

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3 THE SPECIAL REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY FOR LAND ACQUISITION NHAI VELLORE DISTRICT, VELLORE.

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...Respondents

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Prayer

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Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to consider the representation dated 29.04.2025 and shift the constructing of tollgate elevated weigh bridge and barricades installing in front of way to the above Sri Edayanur Mariyamman Temple, Elachur village, Karapattu Post Uthangarai Taluk, Krishnagiri District to adjacent place in a manner not obstructing access to the school and Temple.

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For Petitioner : Mr.K.Thiruvengadam

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1/5

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

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W.P.No.31291 of 2025

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For Respondents : Mr.P.Sathish Additional Government Pleader

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Order

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With consent, the main Writ Petition is taken up for final disposal at the stage of admission itself.

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2. This Writ Petition is filed seeking for the following prayer:-

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For issuance of a mandamus to the respondents to consider the representation dated 29.04.2025 and shift the constructing of tollgate elevated weigh bridge and barricades installing in front of way to the above Sri Edayanur Mariyamman Temple, Elachur village, Karapattu Post Uthangarai Taluk, Krishnagiri District to adjacent place in a manner not obstructing access to the school and Temple.

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3. Heard Mr.K.Thiruvengadam, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr.P.Sathish, learned Additional Government Pleader, who takes notice on behalf of the respondents.

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4. The grievance of the petitioner is that, the third respondent-Land

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2/5

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

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W.P.No.31291 of 2025

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Acquisition Authority has acquired the land and constructed a Tollgate Plaza, elevated Weigh Bridge and barricades, due to which, the devotees are finding very difficult to reach the Temple, as the pathway to access the Temple was totally obstructed because of such constructions in the said place, and hence, the petitioner made a representation to the respondents to dislocate the Tollgate, Elevated Weigh Bride and the Barricades to some other place, as, there are sufficient space available for putting up the same.

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6. However, this Court is of the view that grievance expressed by the petitioner does not merit consideration, for the reason, the Government has constructed the Toll gate Plaza, the Elevated Weigh Bridge and Barricades after providing a pathway to the worshipers to reach the Temple, therefore, the worshipers of the Temple can very well make use of the pathway provided to them tor reach the Temple. Merely because, the said pathway creates a roundabout away for the worshipers to reach the Temple, which is approximately 150 meter away from the Toll gate Plaza and the Elevated Weigh Bridge and Barricades, that cannot be a ground for re-shifting of the Tollgate, Elevated Bridge to some other place, for such trivial reason, the

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3/5

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

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W.P.No.31291 of 2025

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petitioner cannot seek for relocation of the Tollgate Plaza, Elevated Weigh Bride and barricades, which were constructed in the interest of the passer byers of the said place as a whole. Hence, this Court does not find any merit in the Writ Petition and hence, the same is dismissed. No costs.

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24.09.2025

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Index : yes/no Neutral Citation : yes/no

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