Dharmalingam Vs the District Collector — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

Dharmalingam Vs the District Collector — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Direction to the District Collector to consider the petitioner's representation dated 15.02.2026 in accordance with law and pass a reasoned and speaking order, preferably within four weeks of receipt of a copy of the order; no order as to costs; interim application closed.

Issue for consideration

Whether a writ of mandamus should issue directing Respondents 1 to 7 to remove the High Tension transmission lines erected by Respondent 8 (M/s. First Energy 10 Pvt), alleged to violate the conditions of the District Collector's No Objection Certificate and to encroach upon the water channels, rivulets, channels and burial ground of Kannivadi Village, Dharapuram Taluk, Tiruppur District, by considering the petitioner's representation dated 15.02.2026.

Ratio / Principle

Without commenting upon the merits of the case, the Court disposed of the writ petition with direction to the District Collector to consider the petitioner's representation dated 15.02.2026 in accordance with law.

Key takeaways

The District Collector was to pass a reasoned and speaking order as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.ratio¶35

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari, author, with Justice G. Arul Murugan), 27.03.2026, W.P.No.11993 of 2026: Petitioner Dharmalingam s/o Rangasamy sought a writ of mandamus under Article 226 of the Constitution of India directing Respondents 1 to 7 to remove High Tension transmission lines erected by Respondent 8 (M/s. First Energy 10 Pvt, Pune), alleging violation of the conditions of the No Objection Certificate granted by the District Collector, Tiruppur on 24.12.2025, and encroachment upon water channels, rivulets, channels and the burial ground of Kannivadi Village, Dharapuram Taluk, Tiruppur District; his representation to the District Collector dated 15.02.2026 was pending. Without commenting upon the merits, the Court disposed of the petition, directing the District Collector to consider the representation in accordance with law and pass a reasoned and speaking order, preferably within four weeks of receipt of a copy of the order; no order as to costs; the accompanying interim application (W.M.P.No.13096 of 2026) was closed. No precedent cited; no quantum involved.

W.P.No.11993 of 2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 27.03.2026

CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR. SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CHIEF JUSTICE

AND

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN

W.P.No.11993 of 2026

&

W.M.P.No.13096 of 2026

Dharmalingam S/o. Rangasamy Sammanthuraipathi Kannivadi Post Dharapuram Taluk Tiruppur District- 639 202.

Petitioner(s)

Vs

The District Collector Office of the Collectorate Tiruppur District.

The Executive Engineer Water Resources Department Office of the Collectorate Tiruppur, Tiruppur District.

The Revenue Divisional Officer Dharapuram Sub Division Tiruppur District.

The Tahsildar Dharapuram Taluk Tiruppur District.

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W.P.No.11993 of 2026

The Block Development Officer Vellakovil, Dharapuram Taluk Tiruppur District.

The Block Development Officer Mulanur, Dharapuram Taluk Tiruppur District.

The Superintendent of Police Tiruppur District, Tiruppur.

M/s. First Energy 10 Pvt Unit No.601, 6^th Floor, Cello Planitina F.C.Road, Shivaji Nagar Pune-411 005. Respondent(s)

Prayer : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of Mandamus directing 1 to 7 Respondents to remove the High Tension Transmission lines erected by the 8^th Respondent by violating the conditions of the 1^st respondent thereby encroaching the water channels, rivulets and Channels, burial ground of the Kannivadi Village, Dharapuram Taluk, Tiruppur District by considering the petitioner’s representation dated 15.02.2026.

For Petitioner : Mr.R.Rajarajan For Ms.S.Premakumari

For Respondents : Mr.Karthik Jagannath Government Advocate for R1 to R6

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice)

In this petition, petitioner alleges violation of the conditions stipulated in the No Objection Certificate granted by the District ___________ Page 2 of 5_

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W.P.No.11993 of 2026

Collector on 24.12.2025.

In that regard, petitioner has already submitted a representation before the District Collector on 15.02.2026 and the same is still pending.

Without commenting upon the merits of the case, the writ petition is disposed of with direction to the District Collector to consider the representation of petitioner dated 15.02.2026 in accordance with law and pass a reasoned and speaking order, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the interim application is closed.

(SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI,CJ) (G.ARUL MURUGAN,J) 27.03.2026

Index : Yes/No Neutral Citation : Yes/No

kpl

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W.P.No.11993 of 2026

To

The District Collector Office of the Collectorate Tiruppur District.

The Executive Engineer Water Resources Department Office of the Collectorate Tiruppur, Tiruppur District.

The Revenue Divisional Officer Dharapuram Sub Division Tiruppur District.

The Tahsildar Dharapuram Taluk Tiruppur District.

The Block Development Officer Vellakovil Dharapuram Taluk Tiruppur District.

The Block Development Officer Mulanur Dharapuram Taluk Tiruppur District.

The Superintendent of Police Tiruppur District Tiruppur.

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W.P.No.11993 of 2026

THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND G.ARUL MURUGAN,J.

(kpl)

W.P.No.11993 of 2026

27.03.2026

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