T.Raja v. The District Collector / Chairperson
Encroachment on water body – Mandamus (Article 226)
Case brief
What is this about?
Madras High Court (Madurai Bench), W.P.(MD)No.25816 of 2025, decided 18.09.2025 before G.R.Swaminathan, J. and B.Pugalandhi, J. Petitioner T.Raja, resident of Mangudi Village, sought a Writ of Mandamus under Article 226 of the Constitution of India directing respondents 1 to 3 to remove encroachments in Mangudi Kanmai, S.No.38/1, measuring 19.380 Hec (47.88 Acres), Mangudi Village, Sankarankovil Taluk, per his representation dated 19.02.2025. The court recorded that the parcel is an undisputed water body whose boundaries appear to extend into Meenakshipuram Village, Rajapalayam Taluk, impleaded the Tahsildar, Rajapalayam Taluk suo motu as R-6, and disposed of the petition by directing both Tahsildars to coordinate, issue notices to interested persons, conduct a survey, and remove any encroachments found while adhering to due process of law, completing the exercise within four months. Keywords: encroachment removal; water body; Mangudi Kanmai; Sankarankovil Taluk; Tenkasi; Virudhunagar; survey; due process; four-month timeline; suo motu impleadment; Article 226; no costs.