Disposed¶35

T.Saravanan v. The District Collector

Writ Petition – Madras High Court – Encroachment of public road and water body – Koneripatti Agraharam Village, Sankari Taluk, Salem District

Madras HC20 Apr 2026WP/20055/2022

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Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Madras High Court W.P.No.20055 of 2022 (decided 20.04.2026): writ of mandamus under Article 226 seeking removal of encroachments on public road and water body at Koneripatti Agraharam Village, Sankari Taluk, Salem District (S.F.Nos. 377/1, 377/3, 384/10, 384/12, 378/1, 104/1, 106/1, 107/4, 189/11, 190/1 & 2); representations dated 19.03.2022 and 18.04.2022; encroachments removed 19.10.2023 after notice; petition disposed, no costs; continuing direction against fresh encroachment; bench S.M.Subramaniam and K.Surender, JJ.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition disposed of with a continuing direction to the authorities to ensure no further encroachment in the water body; no costs awarded. ¶35

T.Saravanan Vs The District Collector — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ petition disposed of with a continuing direction to the authorities to ensure no further encroachment in the water body; no costs awarded.

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Issue for consideration

Whether a writ of mandamus should issue directing respondents 1 to 5 to take appropriate action against respondents 6 to 9, who allegedly encroached upon the public road and water body in S.F.Nos. 377/1, 377/3, 384/10, 384/12, 378/1, 104/1, 106/1, 107/4, 189/11 and 190/1 & 2 at Koneripatti Agraharam Village, Sankari Taluk, Salem District, by considering the petitioner's representations dated 19.03.2022 and 18.04.2022.

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Court's answer

Since the encroachments had already been removed by the authorities after notice and an opportunity being afforded, no further adjudication was required in the writ petition.

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Ratio / Principle

The authorities are directed to ensure that no further encroachment is permitted in the water body.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition — Madras High Court — Encroachment of public road and water body — Koneripatti Agraharam Village, Sankari Taluk, Salem District — Petitioner sought a writ of mandamus under Article 226 of the Constitution of India directing the revenue/administrative authorities (Respondents 1 to 5) to act against private respondents (6 to 9) who allegedly encroached lands in S.F.Nos. 377/1, 377/3, 384/10, 384/12, 378/1, 104/1, 106/1, 107/4, 189/11 and 190/1 & 2, pursuant to his representations dated 19.03.2022 and 18.04.2022 — During pendency, the Water Resources Department (Mettur Kalvai Division) informed that notice had been issued to the encroachers and the encroachments were removed on 19.10.2023 — Holding: since the encroachments had already been removed, no further adjudication was required; the authorities were directed to ensure that no further encroachment is permitted in the water body — Petition disposed of without costs. Order by S.M.Subramaniam, J.; bench comprised S.M.Subramaniam and K.Surender, JJ. Dated 20.04.2026.

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W.P.No.20055 of 2022

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED : 20.04.2026

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CORAM:

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THE HONOURABLE Mr. JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HONOURABLE Mr. JUSTICE K.SURENDER

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W.P.No.20055 of 2022

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T.Saravanan, S/o.Thangavel

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...Petitioner

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Vs.

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1. The District Collector, Salem – 636 001.

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2. The District Revenue Officer, Salem District.

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3. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Sankari.

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4. The Tahsildar, Sankari.

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5. The Block Development Officer, Sankari.

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6. S.Kavaa Gounder, S/o.Sengottaiya Gounder

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7. Murugesan @ Murugan, S/o.Sengottaiya Gounder

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8. K.Murugan, S/o.Kavaa Gounder

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9. Venkidusamy, S/o.Kavaa Gounder

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...Respondents

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PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 5 herein to take appropriate action as

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

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W.P.No.20055 of 2022

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against the respondents 6 to 9 who encroached the public road and water body situated in S.F.No.377/1, 377/3, 384/10, 384/12 and S.F.No.378/1, 104/1, 106/1, 107/4, 189/11 and 190/1 & 2 at Koneripatti Agraharam Village, Sankari Taluk, Salem District respectively by considering petitioner representation dated 19.03.2022 and 18.04.2022.

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For Petitioner : Mr.R.Marudhachalamurthy For Respondents : Mr.T.Arunkumar, Additional Government Pleader [R1 to R5] Mr.T.M.Hariharan [R6 to R9]

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Order

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[Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J. ]

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The writ petition has been filed to direct the respondents 1 to 5 herein to take appropriate action as against the respondents 6 to 9 who encroached the public road and water body situated in S.F.No.377/1, 377/3, 384/10, 384/12 and S.F.No.378/1, 104/1, 106/1, 107/4, 189/11 and 190/1 & 2 at Koneripatti Agraharam Village, Sankari Taluk, Salem District respectively by considering the petitioner representation dated 19.03.2022 and 18.04.2022.

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2. The Assistant Executive Engineer, Water Resources

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

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W.P.No.20055 of 2022

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Department, Mettur Kalvai Division, addressed a letter to the Thasildar, Sankagiri on 18.04.202. The said letter would show that with reference to the present pending writ petition in W.P.No.20055 of 2022, notice was issued to the encroachers and after affording an opportunity, the encroachments were removed on 19.10.2023.

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3. Since the encroachments have already been removed by the authorities, no further adjudication is required in this writ petition. The authorities are directed to ensure that no further encroachment is permitted in the water body.

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With these observations, this writ petition stands disposed of. No costs.

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[S.M.S., J.] [K.S, J.]

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20.04.2026

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Index: Yes / No Speaking Order/ Non-speaking order Neutral Citation : Yes / No

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