D.Babu Reddy Vs The Superintendent of Police — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

D.Babu Reddy Vs The Superintendent of Police — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ petition closed with no further orders on the mandamus prayer (grievance redressed by construction of the new bridge); direction to official respondents to take forthwith coercive action against any illegal transportation of materials; liberty left to the 9th respondent to seek road expansion by representation; connected miscellaneous petition also closed.

Issue for consideration

Whether respondents 2 and 3 may be forbidden from preventing the movement of lorries over the Subba Reddy Palayam Road and the bridge across the Koasasthalaiyar river (subject matter of the mandamus prayer). +2 more

Court's answer

Since the dilapidated bridge has been replaced by a newly constructed bridge and a decision has been taken in principle to permit vehicles across it, the petitioner's grievance stands redressed and no further orders are required on the writ prayer.

Ratio / Principle

If there is any illegal transportation of materials by these lorries, the official respondents shall forthwith take coercive action to stop such illegal activities.

Key takeaways

On road widening, it is always open to the 9th respondent (Secretary, Public Works Department) to approach the official respondents seeking expansion of the road by way of a representation, which they shall consider in accordance with law.ratio¶58

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Constitution Law — Article 226 — Writ of Mandamus — Madras High Court (Division Bench of M.S. Ramesh and R. Sakthivel, JJ.), judgment dated 06.11.2025 in W.P.No.3872 of 2021 (connected W.M.P.No.4436 of 2021). Petitioner D. Babu Reddy sought a mandamus to forbear respondents 2 and 3 (DSP, Ponneri Range and Inspector of Police, Minjur Police Station) from preventing movement of lorries over the Subba Reddy Palayam Road and the bridge across the Kosasthalaiyar (spelt 'Koasasthalaiyar') river; the officials contended the bridge was dilapidated and unsafe. Pending the petition, additional respondents (including the District Environmental Engineer, TNPCB, a private individual, and the Secretaries of the Public Works and Highways Departments) were impleaded, the dilapidated bridge was demolished, a new bridge was constructed (not yet officially opened) and a decision was taken in principle to permit plying of vehicles across it. Holding the grievance redressed, the Bench closed the writ petition requiring no further orders on the prayer and without costs; directed that if any illegal transportation of materials by the lorries is found, the official respondents shall forthwith take coercive action to stop such activities; and held it open to the 9th respondent (Secretary, Public Works Department) to seek expansion/widening of the narrow road by a representation, to be considered by the authorities in accordance with law. The connected miscellaneous petition was also closed.

W.P.No.3872 of 2021

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 06.11.2025

CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.S. RAMESH

and

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R.SAKTHIVEL

W.P.No.3872 of 2021 and W.M.P.No.4436 of 2021

D.Babu Reddy

S/o.D.Subramanyam Reddy ... Petitioner

Vs.

The Superintendent of Police Tiruvallur District Office of the Superintendent of Police Tiruvallur

The Deputy Superintendent of police Ponneri Range Office of the DSP, Ponneri

The Inspector of Police Minjur Police Station Minjur

The District Collector Tiruvallur District Office of District Collector Tiruvallur

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W.P.No.3872 of 2021

The Tahsildar Ponneri Taluk Office of Tahsildar Ponneri Tiruvallur District

The President, Subba Reddy Palayam Village Panchayat Subba Reddy Palayam Village and Post NCTPS (SO), Ponneri Taluk, Tiruvallur District

(R4 to R6 impleaded vide order dt. 24/3/2021 made in WMP.6484/2021 in WP.3872/2021 by MSNJ & AANJ)

The District Environmental Engineer, Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Gummidipoondi

(R7 Suo-motu impleaded Vide Order Dt 24/3/2021 made in WP3872/2021 By MSNJ & AANJ)

P.Harish Kumar Son of Mr.Babu 60 Subba Reddy Palayam Village and Post NCTPS (SO), Ponneri Taluk, Thiruvallur District Chennai 600120

(R8 impleaded vide order dt 13.10.2022 made in WMP.6289/2022 in WP.3872/2021 by RSMJ & KBJ)

The Secretary Public Works Department Secretariat Fort St. George Chennai - 600 009 10. The Secretary Highways Department Secretariat Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009

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W.P.No.3872 of 2021

(R9, R10 suo motu impleaded vide order dt 13.10.2022 made in WP.3872/2021 by RSMJ & KBJ)

... Respondents

Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, to forbear the respondents 2 and 3 in preventing the movement of lorries over the Subba Reddy Palayam Road and the bridge across Koasasthalaiyar river.

F or Petitioner : Mr.S.Sarath Kumar

for Mr.M.L.Ramesh

For Respondents: Mr.M.Babu Muthu Meeran

Addl. Public Prosecutor - R1 to R3

Mr.R.Kumaravel

Addl Govt. Pleader - R4 to R6, 9 & 10

Mr.B.N.Suchindran

Standing Counsel - R7

Mr.V.Raghavachari

Senior Counsel

for Ms.V.Srimathi - R8

JUDGMENT

M.S.RAMESH, J. and R.SAKTHIVEL, J.

The grievance of the Writ Petitioner is that the official respondents

herein are preventing the free movement of their lorries across the bridge

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W.P.No.3872 of 2021

of Kosasthalaiyar river. It is the stand of the few respondents that the bridge was in dilapidated and unsafe condition, and hence such prevention was made. However, pending the Writ Petition, the dilapilated bridge was demolished and a new bridge has now been constructed, which is yet to be officially opened. However, the decision has now been taken in principle, to permit plying of vehicles across the new bridge.

2.In view of this development, the grievance of the petitioner stands redressed, and hence no further orders are required to the prayer sought for in the above Writ Petition.

3.The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the 8th respondent raised objections alleging that there is illegal transportation of materials by these lorries, apart from causing inconvenience to the villagers, since the Road there was very narrow. In case, if there is any such illegal transportation, the official respondents shall forthwith take coercive action to stop such illegal activities.

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W.P.No.3872 of 2021

4.Insofar as the widening of the road is concerned, it is always

open to the 9th respondent herein to approach the official respondents seeking for expansion of the road with a representation, which shall be considered by them in accordance with law.

5.This Writ Petition stands closed accordingly. No costs.

Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is also closed.

kas

Index: Yes / No Neutral Citation Speaking / Non Speaking

To.

The Superintendent of Police Tiruvallur District Office of the Superintendent of Police Tiruvallur

The Deputy Superintendent of police Ponneri Range Office of the DSP Ponneri

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W.P.No.3872 of 2021

The Inspector of Police Minjur Police Station Minjur

The District Collector Tiruvallur District Office of District Collector Tiruvallur

The Tahsildar Ponneri Taluk Office of Tahsildar Ponneri Tiruvallur District

The President, Subba Reddy Palayam Village Panchayat Subba Reddy Palayam Village and Post NCTPS (SO), Ponneri Taluk, Tiruvallur District

The District Environmental Engineer, Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Gummidipoondi

P.Harish Kumar Son of Mr.Babu 60 Subba Reddy Palayam Village and Post NCTPS (SO), Ponneri Taluk, Thiruvallur District Chennai 600120

The Secretary Public Works Department Secretariat Fort St. George Chennai - 600 009

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W.P.No.3872 of 2021

The Secretary Highways Department Secretariat

Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009

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W.P.No.3872 of 2021

M.S.RAMESH, J. and R.SAKTHIVEL, J.

kas

W.P.No.3872 of 2021 and W.M.P.No.4436 of 2021

06.11.2025

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