Petitioner sought a mandamus forbearing officials from shifting the Village Administrative Office from Aathuvazhi Village, Kottaiur Panchayat to Naranapuram Panchayat. The Tahsildar's counter confirmed the office was not shifted and continued serving both panchayats; petitioner expressed satisfaction.
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W.P(MD)No.24996 of 2025
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 23.10.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE ANITA SUMANTH AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN
W.P(MD)No.24996 of 2025
Suresh Kumar
... Petitioner
Vs.
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W.P(MD)No.24996 of 2025
... Respondents
PRAYER:- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, forbearing the respondents from shifting of existing the Village Administrative Office from Kottaiur Panchayat, Aathuvazhi Village, Sivagiri Taluk, Tenkasi District to the Naranapuram Panchayat or any other place under the guise of administrative reasons based on the representation dated 12.08.2025 made by the petitioner.
For Petitioner : Mr.S.Vellaichamy For RR 1 to 6 : Mr.P.Thilakkumar Government Pleader
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by DR.ANITA SUMANTH, J.)
Read this order in continuation and in conjunction with order
dated 12.09.2025, which reads as follows:
“2. The prayer of the petitioner is for a mandamus forbearing the respondents from shifting the existing office of the Village Administrative Officer from Kottaiur Panchayat, Aathuvazhi Village, Sivagiri Taluk, Tenkasi District to the Naranapuram Panchayat or any place.
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3. A Writ Petition bearing W.P.(MD)No. 16251 of 2025 had earlier been filed by one M.Muthupandi, who also claims to be a resident of Naranapuram Village seeking a direction for opening an office in the proposed place, since according to them, the G.O. had been passed much earlier. An order was passed in that Writ Petition on 17.06.2025, wherein the learned single Judge has rightly held that being a Government office and the construction having been concluded, there was no justification in keeping the same locked on account of the communal tensions between the residents of Kottaiur Panchayat, Aathuvazhi Village, Sivagiri Taluk, Tenkasi District vis-a-vis Naranapuram Village.
4. Learned counsel appearing for the present Writ Petitioner would submit that despite the order of the learned single Judge, the respondents have only inaugurated the new building and the office of the Village Administrative Officer is functioning only in the old building in Kottaiur Panchayat, Aathuvazhi Village only on account of the objections raised by the residents of the Naranapuram Village.
5. The only legitimate grievance that could be had is if the location of the office is so inconvenient to the residents to commute from one village to another for availing the service of the officials in that office.
6. However, Mr.Thilak Kumar, on instructions, would state that the distance between Aathuvazhi Village and Naranapuram Village is only 1 ½ kilometers, which would not inconvenient to the residents at all.
7. Let the exact distance between the villages and the proposed location be ascertained and filed by way of affidavit prior to the next date of hearing. List on 16.09.2025.
2.Counter has been filed by the Tahsildar, Sivagiri Taluk/R6,
wherein they confirm that the distance between the new office and the village is only 2 ½ kilometers. However, this classification is rendered unnecessary in view of the averments in para-13 of the counter as extracted below:
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“13.It is submitted that the existing office of the Village Administrative Officer of Naranapuram Pagam -1 Revenue village is not shifted to the other village panchayat. The contentions of the petitioner alleging that there are violations of the Article 14, 21 and 46 of the Constitution of India are totally denied as false, incorrect and misconceived. It is submitted that the newly constructed village secretariat building situated in Naranapuram Village panchayat is being used by the village panchayat authorities. Similarly the existing Village Administrative Officer's office is also functioning in the existing kottaiyur village panchayat office and serving the needs of the village public of the both village panchayats. Hence the averments of the petitioner has been complied with, the writ petition deserves to be dismissed as false and misconceived.”
3.Since the petitioner is satisfied with the aforesaid, while
recording the same, this writ petition is closed as mandamus is achieved. No costs.
[A.S.M.J.,] & [C.K.J.,] 23.10.2025
Index :Yes/No Internet :Yes ta
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W.P(MD)No.24996 of 2025
DR.ANITA SUMANTH, J. AND C.KUMARAPPAN, J.
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W.P(MD)No.24996 of 2025
23.10.2025
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1 issue framed by the court
Whether the Village Administrative Office should be barred from being shifted from Kottaiur Panchayat, Aathuvazhi Village to Naranapuram Panchayat or elsewhere.
1 provisions across 1 enactments
Suresh Kumar
The State of Tamil Nadu, represented by its Chief Secretary, Secretariat, Chennai
The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Rural Development and Panchayat Department, Secretariat, Chennai
The Director, Directorate of Rural Development and Panchayats, Chennai
The District Collector, Tenkasi District
The Revenue Divisional Officer, Sankarankovil, Tenkasi District
Anita Sumanth
C.Kumarappan
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
