C.Annamalai Vs M.Aruna IAS — Contempt of Court | Madras HC (2026)

C.Annamalai Vs M.Aruna IAS — Contempt of Court | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Contempt petition closed without any punitive sanction; further time granted till 31.05.2026 for total compliance (removal of all mineral heaped on the petitioner's land), with the Department's undertaking recorded by the Court.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents/contemnors wilfully disobeyed this Court's order dated 01.07.2024 in W.P.(MD)No.14131 of 2024 (relating to removal of mineral heaped on the writ petitioner's land), and whether further time should be granted for total compliance.

Ratio / Principle

Although the timeline earlier stipulated by this Court had already lapsed, further time was granted taking into account the special efforts taken by the Department.

Key takeaways

The contempt petition is closed by recording the undertaking that by 31.05.2026 there will be total compliance, i.e., removal in toto of all mineral heaped on the writ petitioner's land.ratio¶¶31
Mr.G.Uma Sankar, Assistant Executive Engineer (WRD), Viralimalai, Pudukkottai, present in person, assured the Court that by 31.05.2026 all the mineral heaped on the writ petitioner's land would be removed in toto.ratio¶¶24

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Contempt petition under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act (CONT.P.(MD)No.3844 of 2025 in W.P.(MD)No.14131 of 2024), founded on alleged wilful disobedience by seven officials (District Collector and District Revenue Officer, Pudukkottai; Chief Engineer, WRO, PWD; Superintending Engineer and two Executive Engineers, Water Resources Department; and Special Tahsildar (Land Acquisition)) of the High Court's order dated 01.07.2024 in W.P.(MD)No.14131 of 2024 concerning removal of mineral heaped on petitioner C.Annamalai's land (Cauvery Vaigai Gundar link project). Mr.G.Uma Sankar, Assistant Executive Engineer (WRD), Viralimalai, appearing in person, assured the Court that by 31.05.2026 all mineral on the writ petitioner's land would be removed in toto. Observing that the Court's earlier stipulated timeline had already lapsed, but taking into account the special efforts taken by the Department, the Judge granted further time and closed the contempt petition by recording the undertaking that total compliance would be achieved by 31.05.2026.

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED : 06.01.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN

CONT.P.(MD)No.3844 of 2025 in W.P.(MD)No.14131 of 2024

C.Annamalai ... Petitioner / Petitioner

Vs.

Ms.M.Aruna,IAS., District Collector, Pudukkottai District, Collectorate, Pudukkottai.

Mr.Murugesan, District Revenue Officer, Pudukkottai District.

Mr.Gopalakrishnan, Chief Engineer, Water Resources Organisation (WRO), Public Works Department, Chepauk, Chennai.

Mr.Pavalakannan, Superintending Engineer, Water Resources Department, (Cauvery Vaigai Gundar link project), Cantonment, Tiruchirappalli.

Mrs.Geetha, Executive Engineer,

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Water Resources Department, (Cauvery Vaigai Gundar link project), Pudukkottai.

Shrimati Geetha, Executive Engineer, Water Resources Department, (Cauvery Vaigai Gundar link project), Tiruchirappalli.

Mr.Karuppaiah, Special Tahsildar (Land Acquisition), (Cauvery Vaigai Gundar link project) Unit-1, Jaihind Nagar, Keeranur, Pudukkottai District. ...Contemnors / Respondents

Prayer: Contempt petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, to punish the contemnors / respondents for wilful disobedience of the order passed by this Court dated 01.07.2024 in W.P.(MD)No.14131 of 2024.

For Petitioner : Mr.K.S.Kathiravan For Respondents : Mr.S.S.Madhavan, Additional Government Pleader. * * *

O R D E R

Mr.G.Uma Sankar, Assistant Executive Engineer(WRD),

Viralimalai, Pudukottai is present in person. He assures this Court

that by 31.05.2026, all the mineral heaped on the writ petitioner's

land will be removed in toto . I notice that the timeline stipulated by

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this Court had already been over. However, taking into account the

special efforts taken by the Department, I grant some more time. This contempt petition is closed by recording the undertaking that by 31.05.2026, there will be total compliance.

06.01.2026

NCS : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No PMU

To:

The District Collector, Pudukkottai District, Collectorate, Pudukkottai.

The District Revenue Officer, Pudukkottai District.

The Chief Engineer, Water Resources Organisation (WRO), Public Works Department, Chepauk, Chennai.

The Superintending Engineer, Water Resources Department, (Cauvery Vaigai Gundar link project), Cantonment, Tiruchirappalli.

The Executive Engineer, Water Resources Department, (Cauvery Vaigai Gundar link project), Pudukkottai.

The Executive Engineer, Water Resources Department, (Cauvery Vaigai Gundar link project), Tiruchirappalli.

The Special Tahsildar (Land Acquisition), (Cauvery Vaigai Gundar link project)

Unit-1, Jaihind Nagar, Keeranur, Pudukkottai District.

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G.R.SWAMINATHAN,J.

PMU

CONT.P.(MD)No.3844 of 2025 in W.P.(MD)No.14131 of 2024

06.01.2026

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