Disposed¶31

Singamsetty Ateendroolo Chetty Charities v. Greater Chennai Corporation

Madras HC10 Feb 2026WP/2451/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Madras HC, WP No. 2451 of 2026 (V. Lakshminarayanan J., 10-02-2026): petitioner trust objected to Greater Chennai Corporation structures on South Market Street before its Broadway property; permission said to be under S.123 Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998; Corporation withdrew temporary-structure plan and agreed to allot alternate vendor space in Vending Zone; writ petition and connected WMPs 2699 & 2702 of 2026 closed, no costs.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition closed without costs after the Greater Chennai Corporation withdrew its plan for erection of temporary structure at South Market Street and committed to allot alternate space to vendors in the Vending Zone; connected miscellaneous petitions (WMP Nos.2699 & 2702 of 2026) also closed. ¶31

Singamsetty Ateendroolo Chetty Charities Vs Greater… — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the construction of structures by the Greater Chennai Corporation on the road (South Market Street) in front of the petitioner's property constitutes permissible encroachment by the Corporation.

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Court's answer

The Court recorded the respondents' affidavit/status report confirming that the Greater Chennai Corporation is withdrawing the plan for erection of temporary structure at South Market Street and will allot alternate space to vendors in the available space in the Vending Zone.

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Ratio / Principle

In view of the Corporation's withdrawal, the Court held that no further order was required in the writ petition; the writ petition stands closed without costs and the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition - Encroachment by Greater Chennai Corporation on South Market Street, Chennai: The petitioner charitable trust, whose property is at No.146, Prakasam Salai alias Broadway, Kothwal Chavadi, sought a mandamus under Article 226 restraining the Corporation from damaging, defacing or erecting temporary or permanent structures on South Market Street adjoining its property. Photographs showed the Corporation had put up structures on the road; Standing Counsel stated the Commissioner had permitted the construction invoking Section 123 of the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998, and the Court called for particulars of the road occupation, extent of temporary structures, ingress/egress access and duration. Before any adjudication, the Corporation withdrew the proposal for the temporary structures and, by a "status report" affidavit, undertook to allot alternate space to vendors in the available space in the Vending Zone. Recording that withdrawal, the Court held no further order was required and closed the writ petition without costs, along with the connected miscellaneous petitions.

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WP No. 2451 of 2026

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 10-02-2026

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CORAM

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THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE V. LAKSHMINARAYANAN

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WP No. 2451 of 2026 AND

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WMP Nos.2699 & 2702 OF 2026

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Singamsetty Ateendroolo Chetty Charities Rep. by its Trustee, Having office at 141, Mint Street, Chennai 600 001 .. ..Petitioner(s)

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Vs.

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Greater Chennai Corporation Rep. by its Commissioner, Rippon Building, Chennai 600 003’.

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The Area Engineer Division No. 57, Zone V Greater Chennai Corporation Moolagothram, Chennai 600 001. ..Respondent(s)

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Prayer : This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the Respondents not to anyway damaging, deface or put up temporary or permanent structure on the South Market Street, Chennai ( off the Prakasam Salai Alias Broadway, Kothwal Chavadi, Sowcarpet, Chennai 600 001) or the neighbouring streets adjacent to the petitioner’s property situated at No.146, Prakasam Salai alias Broadway, Kothwal Chavadi, Sowcarpet, Chennai 600 001.

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For Petitioner : Mr.K.Srinivasa Moorthy for M/s.Row and Reddy

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Page1 of 4

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

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WP No. 2451 of 2026

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For Respondents : Ms.Lavanya

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for Mr.E.C.Ramesh

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ORDER

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The petitioner came forward with a grievance that the Respondent Corporation is constructing a structure in front of his property on South Market Street, Chennai at No.146, Prakasam Salai alias Broadway, Kothwal Chavadi, Sowcarpet, Chennai-1.

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Upon looking at the photographs produced by Mr.K.Srinivasa

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Moorthy, it became clear that the Corporation has indeed put up structures on the road. I called upon Mr.E.C.Ramesh, learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents, as to how such encroachments by the Corporation is permissible. He stated that the Commissioner has permitted the construction of structures, invoking Section 123 of the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998. Hence, I called upon Mr.E.C.Ramesh to produce the order indicating the length of the road to be occupied by the superstructure, the extent of the temporary structures, as well as whether there is any provisional pathway for ingress and egress from the petitioner’s property. This Court also called upon the Commissioner to state the period for which the temporary structure would be put up.

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__________ Page2 of 4

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

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WP No. 2451 of 2026

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On the next date of hearing, Mr.E.C.Ramesh stated that the proposal to

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put up temporary structures has been withdrawn. Hence, the respondents were called upon to file an affidavit to that effect. The matter was directed to be listed today.

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When I took up the matter, Ms.Lavanya, representing Mr.E.C.Ramesh, produced an affidavit titled “status report”. Paragraph No.6 of the status report /affidavit, states as follows:-

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“ I respectfully submit that the Greater Chennai Corporation is withdrawing the plan for erection of temporary structure at South Market Street and the Greater Chennai Corporation will allot alternate space to vendors in the available space in the Vending Zone.

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The same is recorded.

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In view of the above, no further order is required in this writ petition. Hence, this writ petition stands closed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

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10-02-2026

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

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__________ Page3 of 4

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

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WP No. 2451 of 2026

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V.LAKSHMINARAYANAN J.