N.K.Padmanabhan Vs The Union of India — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

N.K.Padmanabhan Vs The Union of India — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No relief granted by this court; the petition was closed after taking on record the petitioner's withdrawal undertaking (affidavit dated 2.12.2021) and the recorded submission that the quantified compensation of Rs.3,20,536/- had been transferred by RTGS, with no costs awarded.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents would obey and comply with the mandates of the High Court of Madras stipulated in its judgment in Writ Petition No. 18531 of 1998 dated 19.02.2007, and not deviate from them, while relocating the petitioner residing in the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve. +1 more

Ratio / Principle

Recording the aforesaid submissions (the petitioner's withdrawal affidavit and the recorded RTGS-transfer submission), the writ petition was closed.

Key takeaways

The Bench took on record the affidavit dated 2.12.2021 filed by the petitioner, which was circulated in court by Mr.Neethi Perumal.obiter¶33
The petitioner reported no instructions both on the date of this order and on the earlier occasion.obiter¶52
Though no receipt was produced showing that the petitioner had received the quantified amount, the Bench recorded the submission of Mr.Neethi Perumal that the amount had been transferred by way of RTGS.obiter

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

MADRAS HIGH COURT - W.P.No.11406 of 2018 (N.K.Padmanabhan v. Union of India and others) - order dated 05.02.2026 (read in continuation of order dated 04.02.2026), made by Dr. Justice Anita Sumanth with Justice Mummineni Sudheer Kumar. The petitioner, formerly resident of Bennai, Nellakottai village in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, had sought a mandamus under Article 226 directing the respondents to obey the mandates of the High Court's judgment in W.P.No.18531 of 1998 dated 19.02.2007 during his relocation, and had prayed for reassessment of compensation for his assets and reimbursement of registration charges. As per his affidavit dated 2.12.2021 circulated in court: land-for-land and asset compensation was received in 2017; a registered sale deed was executed in favour of the Deputy Director, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve; the grievance was undervaluation for want of proper enumeration of trees and crops; the District Level Committee (meeting 24.10.2018) directed a Sub Level Committee report; the registration amount was reimbursed; the reassessment per proceedings No.6310/2001 dated 18.8.2021 was accepted by the petitioner and the DLC on 15.9.2021, when the DLC agreed to compensate him and his siblings; and he undertook to withdraw the petition. Proceedings dated 30.09.2022 quantified the payable amount at Rs.3,20,536/-; no receipt was produced, but the Bench recorded counsel's submission that the amount was transferred by RTGS. The petitioner reported no instructions. The writ petition was closed; no costs; connected WMP.No.13314 of 2018 closed.

Procedural history

How this case reached the court

AI extract

Prior proceeding
Earlier judgment of the High Court of Madras in Writ Petition No. 18531 of 1998 dated 19.02.2007, whose mandates the petitioner sought to have obeyed while relocating him from the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve.¶25
Prior proceeding
Petitioner was residing at Bennai, Nellakottai village in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve; per the NTCA rehabilitation guidelines he and his siblings submitted an MOU accepted by the District Level Committee and the NTCA.¶36
Prior proceeding
During 2017 the petitioner and his siblings received land for land and compensation for their assets inside the reserve.¶37
Prior proceeding
Registered sale deed executed in favour of the Deputy Director, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, registration expenditure borne by the deponent himself.¶41
Prior proceeding
Grievance: valuation of the family's assets proved very minimal owing to lack of proper enumeration of trees and crops.¶41
Prior proceeding
Petitioner filed W.P.No.11406/2018 before the Hon'ble High Court, Madurai Bench praying for reassessment of asset values inside the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and reimbursement of the registration amount.¶42
Prior proceeding
District Level Committee meeting held on 24.10.2018 discussed the petitioner's representation, agreed to rectify the grievances and directed the Sub Level Committee to furnish a report.¶43
Prior proceeding
Registration amount incurred by the petitioner was reimbursed by the District Level Committee.¶44
Prior proceeding
Sub Level Committee reassessed the assets at Bennai and submitted its report to the District Level Committee per proceedings bearing No.6310/2001 dated 18.8.2021.¶44
Prior proceeding
The reassessment report was accepted by the petitioner and by the District Level Committee in its meeting held on 15.9.2021.¶44
Prior proceeding
In its meeting held on 15.9.2021 the District Level Committee agreed to compensate the petitioner and his siblings.¶45
Prior proceeding
By affidavit dated 2.12.2021 (circulated in court on 05.02.2026 by Mr.Neethi Perumal) the petitioner undertook to withdraw the pending writ petition.¶45
Prior proceeding
Proceedings dated 30.09.2022 (circulated by Mr.Neethi Perumal) quantified the amount payable to the petitioner at Rs.3,20,536/-.¶54
Prior proceeding
The present order was read in continuation of and in conjunction with an earlier order dated 04.02.2026 in the same case.¶32