Dismissed¶38

S.Prabhu v. The Principal Secretary to Government

Madras HC18 Jun 2025WP(MD)/2738/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Madras High Court Madurai Bench writ petition dismissed G.O.Ms.No.70 14.03.2024 Agriculture Farmers Welfare Department Karur Government Agriculture College Research Institute temple lands acquisition compensation Tamil Nadu Agricultural University policy decision Article 226 certiorarified mandamus Kulithalai Taluk Inungur Village S.Prabhu S.M.Subramaniam A.D.Maria Clete 18.06.2025

What did the court decide?

None; the Writ Petition stands dismissed with no order as to costs, and the connected miscellaneous petitions (W.M.P.(MD).Nos.1911 and 1912 of 2025) are closed. ¶38

S.Prabhu Vs The Principal Secretary to Government — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

None; the Writ Petition stands dismissed with no order as to costs, and the connected miscellaneous petitions (W.M.P.(MD).Nos.1911 and 1912 of 2025) are closed.

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Issue for consideration

Whether G.O.Ms.No.70 dated 14.03.2024 establishing the Agricultural College (allegedly by acquiring temple lands when alternate lands were available in Kulithalai Taluk) is illegal and liable to be quashed. +1 more

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Court's answer

The decision to establish the Agricultural College was taken by the Government as a policy decision.

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Ratio / Principle

The 40 acres of lands acquired would be sufficient for establishing the Agricultural College in that locality.

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Key takeaways

The lands were acquired, the land owners received compensation, and the acquired lands have already been handed over to the Agricultural University for establishing the Agricultural College.ratio¶37
Since the facts stand as above and the compensation has already been settled in favour of the temple, the petitioner is not entitled to any relief and the Writ Petition need not be entertained.ratio¶37
In the event of any violation of statutory provisions or otherwise while establishing the College, the petitioner is at liberty to submit a complaint to the Government.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (Madurai Bench), W.P.(MD).No.2738 of 2025 (decided 18.06.2025; order authored by S.M.Subramaniam, J., bench including Dr.A.D.Maria Clete, J.): Dismissed the writ petition (Art. 226, Certiorarified Mandamus) of S.Prabhu seeking quashing of G.O.Ms.No.70 dated 14.03.2024 (Agriculture – Farmers Welfare Department) for establishing the Karur Government Agriculture College and Research Institute, and identification of suitable land of about 205.44 acres at Inungur Village, Kulithalai Taluk, Karur District. Held: 40 acres acquired suffice for the College; the establishment decision is a Government policy decision; lands were acquired, land owners received compensation (already settled in favour of the temple), and the acquired lands were handed over to the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University; hence the petitioner is not entitled to relief. Liberty reserved to the petitioner to complain to the Government in the event of any violation of statutory provisions while establishing the College. No order as to costs; connected miscellaneous petitions closed.

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W.P.(MD).No.2738 of 2025

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED: 18.06.2025

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE A.D.MARIA CLETE

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W.P.(MD).No.2738 of 2025 and W.M.P.(MD).No.1911 and 1912 of 2025

S.Prabhu

... Petitioner

Vs.

1.The Principal Secretary to Government, Agricultural Production Commissioner, Fort St.George, Chennai – 600 009.

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2.The Principal Secretary to Government, Religious Endowments Department, Fort St.George, Chennai – 600 009.

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3.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious Charitable Endowments Department, No. 119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai – 600 034.

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4.The Commissioner of Land Administration, Land Administration Department, 2^nd Floor, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai – 600 005.

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Page 1 of 6

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

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W.P.(MD).No.2738 of 2025

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5.The Registrar, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Lawley Road, Coimbatore – 641 003.

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6.The District Collector, Office of Collectorate, Karur District.

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... Respondents

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PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records relating to the impugned G.O.Ms.No.70 dated 14.03.2024 issued by the 1^st respondent and quash the same as illegal and consequently direct the 1^st respondent to identify the suitability of establishing the Karur Government Agriculture College and Research Institute in S.Nos.347/4, 5, 7 totally measuring an extent of about 205.44 acres situated at Inungur Village, Kulithalai Taluk, Karur District.

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For Petitioner : Mr.M.Mahaboob Athiff for Mr.S.Ananth For R-1 to R-4 : Mr.P.Thilak Kumar & R-6 Government Pleader For R-5 : Mr.A.Thirumurthy

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ORDER

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(Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.)

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G.O.Ms.No.70, Agriculture – Farmers Welfare Department, dated

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14.03.2024 issued for establishing Agricultural College is under challenge in the present Writ Petition.

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Page 2 of 6

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

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W.P.(MD).No.2738 of 2025

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The learned counsel for the petitioner would mainly contend that sufficient lands are not made available for agricultural activities in the proposed Agricultural College. The Government acquired temple lands when alternate lands are very much available in Kulithalai Taluk. Thus, the order impugned is to be set aside.

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The learned Government Pleader appearing for the official respondents would oppose by stating that 40 acres of lands are acquired for developing Agricultural College. Therefore, there are sufficient lands available for agricultural activities within the college premises and thus, there is no infirmity. The lands are already acquired and compensation has already been paid to the owners of the lands. Thus, the present Writ Petition is liable to be rejected.

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The learned counsel for the fifth respondent/Agricultural University

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would also submit that the lands were handed over to the Agricultural University for establishing an Agricultural College.

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This Court is of the considered view that 40 acres of lands are acquired, which would be sufficient for establishing the Agricultural College in that locality. The decision to establish the Agricultural College is taken by the

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Page 3 of 6

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

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W.P.(MD).No.2738 of 2025

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Government as a policy decision. Lands were acquired and the land owners received compensation. The acquired lands are already handed over to the Agricultural University for establishing Agricultural College. That being the factum, the petitioner is not entitled for any relief and further, the compensation has already been settled in favour of the temple. Thus, the present Writ Petition need not be entertained. In the event of any violation of statutory provisions or otherwise while establishing the College, the petitioner is at liberty to submit a complaint to the Government.

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