Dismissed¶33

N.Vaigunda Kumar v. The District Collector

Madras HC18 Sept 2025WP(MD)/25819/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Temple demolition; temple in water body; encroachment; statutory protection for pre-15.08.1947 structures; nine months time to shift temple; petitioner's undertaking; certiorari under Article 226; impugned order Na.Ka.No.552/2024/A1 dated 11.09.2025; Executive Officer Marungur Town Panchayat; District Collector Kanyakumari; Water Resource Department (Irrigation); W.P.(MD)No.25819 of 2025; connected W.M.P.(MD)Nos.20208 & 20209 of 2025; decided 18.09.2025 by G.R.Swaminathan, J. and B.Pugalendhi, J.

What did the court decide?

Nine months' time granted to the petitioner to shift the temple to any alternative site; petition otherwise dismissed with no costs and connected miscellaneous petitions closed ¶33

N.Vaigunda Kumar Vs The District Collector — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

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1 W.P.(MD)NO.25819 OF 2025

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED : 18.09.2025

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN

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AND

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THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI

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W.P.(MD)No.25819 of 2025 AND W.M.P.(MD)Nos.20208 & 20209 of 2025

N.Vaigunda Kumar

... Petitioner

Vs.

The District Collector, Kanyakumari District at Nagercoil.

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The Assistant Director of Town Panchayat, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District.

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The Junior Engineer, Water Resource Department(Irrigation), Myladi, Kanyakumari District.

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The Executive Officer, Marungur Town Panchayat, Marungur, Kanyakumari District. ... Respondents

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Prayer: Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, issuing a Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records pertaining to the impugned order passed by the fourth respondent dated 11.09.2025 in Na.Ka.No.552/2024/A1 and quash the same.

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1/4

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

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2 W.P.(MD)NO.25819 OF 2025

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For Petitioner : Mr.V.Sasi Kumar

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For Respondents : Mr.R.Ragavendran,

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Government Advocate for R-1 to R-3.

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Mr.K.S.Selvaganesan, Additional Government Pleader for R-4. * * *

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O R D E R

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Heard both sides.

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The petitioner wants this Court to restrain the respondents

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from demolishing the petition-mentioned temple. The temple is located in a water body. There is no concrete proof to show that the temple was in existence on 15.08.1947. Only such structures will be entitled to statutory protection. Therefore, we are not in a position to grant relief. However, taking into account the special facts and circumstances of this case, we grant nine months time to shift the temple to any alternative site.

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The grant of time for demolishing has been granted to the petitioner by taking into account the petitioner's undertaking before this Court. We make it clear that the grant of time in this writ petition 2/4

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

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3 W.P.(MD)NO.25819 OF 2025

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shall not come in the way of the authorities from taking action

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against the remaining encroachers. This writ petition stands

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dismissed with the aforesaid direction. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

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(G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.) & (B.PUGALENDHI, J.) 18^th September 2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No