The Project Director Vs P.K.Pounraj — Madras HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

The Project Director Vs P.K.Pounraj — Madras HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Petitioner (Project Director, National Highways Authority of India) to be impleaded as 4th respondent in CMA No. 3224 of 2024; Registry directed to carry out necessary amendments and list the Civil Miscellaneous Appeal on 03.06.2026.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner (Project Director, National Highways Authority of India), who was not a party to the main appeal CMA No. 3224 of 2024, should be impleaded as 4th respondent in the appeal.

Court's answer

On being satisfied with the submissions of counsel for the petitioner (Project Director, NHAI) and the reasons stated in the affidavit, the Civil Miscellaneous Petition seeking impleadment of the petitioner as a party respondent in the main appeal is allowed.

Ratio / Principle

The Registry is directed to carry out the necessary amendments and list the Civil Miscellaneous Appeal on 03.06.2026.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Impleadment — petition in pending compensation appeal. CMP No. 772 of 2025 in CMA No. 3224 of 2024 (Madras High Court, coram P. Velmurugan and K. Govindarajan Thilakavadi JJ.; order authored by P. Velmurugan J.; dated 22-04-2026): Counsel for the petitioner, the Project Director, National Highways Authority of India (PIU-Salem), submitted that the petitioner had not been impleaded as a party in the main appeal and, relying on various decisions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and of this Court, including Union of India Vs. Kumaravelu (judgment dated 25.11.2021), contended that the petitioner is an interested party entitled to be heard while deciding matters relating to compensation, and sought impleadment as 4th respondent in the appeal. Held: on being satisfied with the submissions and the reasons stated in the affidavit, the Court allowed the Civil Miscellaneous Petition and directed the Registry to carry out the necessary amendments and to list the Civil Miscellaneous Appeal on 03.06.2026. (The interested-party contention is counsel's submission as recorded; this short order effects no substantive adjudication on compensation.)

CMP No. 772 of 2025

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 22-04-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE P. VELMURUGAN AND THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE K. GOVINDARAJAN THILAKAVADI

CMP No. 772 of 2025 in

CMA No. 3224 of 2024

The Project Director

National Highways Authority of India, PIU-Salem, Door No. 212-3/D3-1, Sri Nagar Colony Narasothipatti Salem-636 004

..Appellant(s)

Vs

P.K.Pounraj

The District Collector, Dharmapuri.

The District Revenue officer/Competent Authority LA NH Collectorate Campus Dharmapuri.

The Special Thasildar LA National Highways No.7 NHAI Collectorate Dharmapuri-5.

..Respondent(s)

Prayer: To implead the petitioner as 4^th respondent in the instant appeal and thus render Justice.

For Appellant(s): Mr.Su Srinivasan For Respondent(s): Mr.Prashant Rajagopal for R1 Mr.P.Gurunathan, AGP for R2 to R4

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CMP No. 772 of 2025

ORDER (Order of the Court was made by P.VELMURUGAN,J.)

The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner

herein, who is the Project Director, National Highways Authority of India, has not been impleaded as a party in the main appeal. By placing reliance on various decisions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, as well as the decisions of this Court, including the case in Union of India Vs. Kumaravelu vide judgment dated 25.11.2021, the learned counsel submitted that the petitioner herein is an interested party and they should be heard while deciding matters relating to compensation. Hence, he sought for impleading the petitioner as a party respondent in the main appeal.

2.On being satisfied with the submission and the reasons stated in the affidavit, the present Civil Miscellaneous Petition is allowed.

(P.V.,J.) (K.G.T.,J.) 22-04-2026

Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No

hvk

Note: Registry is directed to carry out the necessary amendments and list the Civil Miscellaneous Appeal on 03.06.2026.

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CMP No. 772 of 2025

To

The District Collector, Dharmapuri.

The District Revenue officer/Competent Authority, (LA NH), Collectorate Campus, Dharmapuri.

The Special Thasildar (LA), National Highways No.7 NHAI Collectorate, Dharmapuri-5.

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CMP No. 772 of 2025

P.VELMURUGAN, J. AND K.GOVINDARAJAN THILAKAVADI, J.

hvk

CMP No. 772 of 2025 in CMA No. 3224 of 2024

22-04-2026

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