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S.Saravanan v. Dr.N.O.Sukhaputra

Madras HC16 Mar 2026CONT P(MD)/783/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 Section 11; disobedience of order dated 12.11.2025 in W.P.(MD)No.25441 of 2025; Virudhunagar District Collector, DRO, RDO, Tahsildar, Assistant Director Survey and Land Records, Revenue Inspector; proceedings under Land Encroachment Act; four encroachments found, three minor, one temple shed; temple protected by order dated 12.02.2026 in W.P.(MD)No.3097 of 2026; removal of remaining encroachments; contempt petition closed; Madurai Bench of Madras High Court; N. Sathish Kumar, J.; M. Jothiraman, J.

What did the court decide?

Contempt petition closed; authorities left free to proceed as per law to remove the encroachments other than the temple structure protected by the order dated 12.02.2026 in W.P.(MD)No.3097 of 2026. ¶39

S.Saravanan Vs Dr.N.O.Sukhaputra — Contempt of Court | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Contempt petition closed; authorities left free to proceed as per law to remove the encroachments other than the temple structure protected by the order dated 12.02.2026 in W.P.(MD)No.3097 of 2026.

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Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents committed wilful disobedience of the order dated 12.11.2025 in W.P.(MD)No.25441 of 2025 warranting punishment under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.

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Court's answer

Pursuant to the Court's order dated 12.11.2025, necessary proceedings have been initiated under the Land Encroachment Act and four encroachments have been found.

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Ratio / Principle

Of the four encroachments, three are minor in nature and the fourth is a shed put up by the Temple; the Temple obtained relief through W.P.(MD)No.3097 of 2026, allowed by this Court on 12.02.2026 with a direction not to demolish the temple's structure.

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Key takeaways

The authorities are to proceed as per law to remove the encroachments other than the temple's structure.ratio¶38
Since proceedings under the Land Encroachment Act have already been initiated in compliance with the Court's order, the contempt petition is closed.ratio¶39

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Contempt petition - Madras High Court (Madurai Bench), Cont.P.(MD)No.783 of 2026, decided 16.03.2026 (order by N. Sathish Kumar, J.; bench of N. Sathish Kumar and M. Jothiraman, JJ.). S. Saravanan sought punishment of six Virudhunagar district revenue/collectorate officials for alleged wilful disobedience of the Court's order dated 12.11.2025 in W.P.(MD)No.25441 of 2025. On instructions, the Additional Government Pleader reported that proceedings under the Land Encroachment Act had been initiated pursuant to that order and four encroachments were found - three minor and one a shed put up by a Temple; the Temple's writ petition W.P.(MD)No.3097 of 2026 had been allowed on 12.02.2026 with a direction not to demolish its structure. Holding compliance to have commenced, the Court directed the authorities to proceed as per law to remove the other encroachments and closed the contempt petition.

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CONT.P.(MD)No.783 of 2026

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED: 16.03.2026

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CORAM:

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN

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CONT.P.(MD)No.783 of 2026

S.Saravanan

...Petitioner

Vs.

1.Dr.N.O.Sukhaputra,

The District Collector/monitoring Committee, O/o. District Collectorate Office Complex, Sathur Road, Virudhunagar District, Virudhunagar.

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2.R.Ananthi,

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The District Revenue Officer, O/o.District Collectorate Office Complex, Sathur Road, Virudhunagar District, Virudhunagar.

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3.S.K.Kanagaraj,

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The Revenue Divisional Officer, O/o.Revenue Divisional Officer, Sathur, Virudhunagar District.

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4.S.Rajakumar,

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The Revenue Tahsildar, O/o. the Revenue Tahsildar, Madurai Road, Virudhunagar District, Virudhunagar.

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5.T.Vijayakumar,

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The Assistant Director,

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

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CONT.P.(MD)No.783 of 2026

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Survey and Land Records, O/o.District Collectorate Office Complex, Sathur Road, Virudhunagar District, Virudhunagar.

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6.S.Sukumar,

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The Revenue Inspector, O/o Revenue Inspector, West Street, Near Oorani, Sankaralingapuram Post, Virudhunagar District.

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....Respondents

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PRAYER:- Contempt Petition – filed under Section 11 of the Contempt Courts Act, to punish the contemnors for having wilfully disobedience and disrespect of the order dated 12.11.2025 in W.P.(MD)No.25441 of 2025 under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.

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For Appellant : Mr.L.Prabhu For Respondents : Mr.A.Kannan Additional Government Pleader

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ORDER

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(Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.)

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This contempt petition is filed alleging disobedience of the order of this Court dated 12.11.2025.

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2.Today, when the contempt petition is taken up for hearing,

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the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the official respondents, on instructions, submits that pursuant to the order of this

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

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CONT.P.(MD)No.783 of 2026

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Court, necessary proceedings have been initiated under the provisions of the Land Encroachment Act and four encroachments have been found. Out of the said four encroachments, three encroachments are minor in nature and another one is a shed put up by the Temple. With regard to the proceedings initiated as against encroachment made by the Temple, the Temple has approached this Court by way of filing writ petition in W.P.(MD)No.3097 of 2026 and this Court vide order dated 12.02.2026 allowed the writ petition directing not to demolish the temple's structure.

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3.In such view of the matter, let the authorities proceed as per law to remove the other encroachments.

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4.As the proceedings have already been initiated under the provisions of the Land Encroachment Act in compliance of the order of this Court, this contempt petition is closed.

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[N.S.K., J.] & [M.J.R., J.] 16.03.2026

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Index : Yes/No NCC : Yes/No ta

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

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CONT.P.(MD)No.783 of 2026

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