C.Jothi v. National Highways Authority of India
Case brief
What is this about?
Madras High Court writ disposal dated 16-04-2026 in W.P.No.13566 of 2023 (C. Jothi v. National Highways Authority of India and others, with connected W.M.P.No.13241 of 2023). Petitioner sought mandamus compelling the Project Officer, NHAI PIU-Kancheepuram (R2) to act under Section 26 of the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002 to remove encroachment by B. Saravanan (R4), pursuant to NHAI communication NHAI/14033/1.A/2009/PIU-Chennai/1269 dated 08.07.2022, a prior complaint to the competent authority having drawn no action. Court affirmed that National Highways authorities must keep highways free of encroachment and public usage, and directed R1 (NHAI PIU-Chennai), R2 and R5 (Divisional Engineer (NH), Koyambedu, suo motu impleaded) to inspect, survey, identify and remove all encroachments per applicable statute/rules within twelve weeks. No costs; miscellaneous petition closed. Keywords: encroachment removal; National Highways Act; Section 26, Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act 2002; NHAI; writ of mandamus; twelve-week compliance deadline; suo motu impleader; Thiruverkadu; footpath obstruction.