Perumal Vs The District Collector

PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 5 to remove the encroachments made in the public pathway in Survey No. 1311/7, 1311/10, Naranammalpuram Part-I, Tirunelveli District by considering the petitioner's representation dated 04.03.2024.

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For Petitioner : Mr.C.Venkatesh

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For Respondents 1 to 3 : Mr.P.Thilak Kumar

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Government Pleader For Respondent No.5 : Mr.P.Kottaisamy, Government Advocate [Crl. Side]

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**O R D E R *************

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[ Order of the Court was made by M.S.RAMESH, J.]

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By consent of both sides, the writ petition itself is taken up for

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final disposal at the stage of admission itself.

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W.P.(MD)No.2524 of 2025

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2. This writ petition has been filed for a Mandamus to direct the respondents 1 to 5 to remove the encroachments made in the public pathway in Survey No.1311/7, 1311/10, Naranammalpuram Part-I, Tirunelveli District by considering the petitioner's representation dated 04.03.2024.

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3. Since this Court is directing the respondents 1 to 5 to consider the petitioner's representation, after giving due opportunity to the private respondent herein, notice to the private respondent is hereby dispensed with.

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4. The petitioner herein had given representation to the official respondents on 04.03.2024, for removal of the alleged encroachment. Since the said representation was not considered, the present writ petition has been filed.

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5. It is needless to point out that whenever a representation of

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this nature is made to a Statutory Authority, there is a duty cast upon him to consider the same on its own merits and pass appropriate orders in one

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way or other, instead of keeping the same pending indefinitely. As such, non-consideration of the representation by the Statutory Authority would amount to dereliction of duty and hence, this Court will be justified in invoking its extraordinary powers under Article 226 of the Constitution of the India and direct them to consider the same within a stipulated time.

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6. In the light of the above observations, there shall be a direction to the respondents 1 to 5 to consider the petitioner's representation dated 04.03.2024, on its own merits and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law, after giving due opportunity to the petitioner herein and the sixth respondent, as well as all other persons, who may be interested in the subject property, within a period of three [3] months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any of its views with regard to the merits of the matter and that it is open to the concerned respondents to consider the same on its own merits.

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7. With the above direction, this Writ Petition stands disposed

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of. There shall be no order as to costs.

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[M.S.R.,J.] & [A.D.M.C.,J.]