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Anbu Nilayam Physically Handicapped v. The Secretary To Government

Madras HC9 Feb 2026WP/2516/2020

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Street vending; bunk shops; Town Vending Committee (TVC); vending and non-vending zone demarcation; Greater Chennai Corporation Zone V; Egmore, Chennai; physically handicapped self-employed persons' association; Township Vending Committee proceedings 30.08.2019; Tamilnadu Government Gazette 24.07.2025; representations for issuance of licence; Article 226 certiorarified mandamus; writ petition disposed, no costs, connected WMPs closed.

What did the court decide?

Liberty given to members of the petitioner association to approach the TVC with appropriate representations for issuance of licence, to be considered by the Committee in accordance with law and in a timely manner; no costs awarded; connected miscellaneous petitions closed. ¶42

Anbu Nilayam Physically Handicapped Vs The Secretary… — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the area in which the members of the petitioner association have their bunks has been earmarked as a vending or non-vending zone under the current TVC proceedings. +1 more

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Court's answer

The designation of the area as a vending or non-vending zone being a question of fact, the members of the petitioner association are permitted to approach the TVC by way of appropriate representations for issuance of licence.

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Ratio / Principle

Such representations for issuance of licence are to be considered by the Committee (TVC) in accordance with law and in a timely manner.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (Dr. Anita Sumanth and Mummineni Sudheer Kumar, JJ.; order made by Dr. Anita Sumanth J.) disposed of W.P. No. 2516 of 2020, filed in 2020 under Article 226 of the Constitution by the Anbu Nilayam Physically Handicapped Self Employed Welfare Association (37 members with bunks in and around Egmore, Chennai), challenging the proceedings of the Zonal Officer/Chairman, Township Vending Committee (TVC), Zone-V, Greater Chennai Corporation dated 30.08.2019 and seeking restraint against interference with its members' bunk shops. Observing that a Town Vending Committee has a five-year tenure and that the TVC composition had changed since institution, the Court, by interim order dated 04.02.2026, required production of the latest TVC proceedings; counsel for the Corporation circulated the Tamilnadu Government Gazette dated 24.07.2025 demarcating vending and non-vending zones, wherein, per counsel, the members' bunks area fell within a non-vending zone, to which petitioner's counsel objected. Holding the designation to be a question of fact, the Court permitted the members to approach the TVC with appropriate representations for issuance of licence, to be considered by the Committee in accordance with law and in a timely manner; no costs; connected WMPs 2929 and 2931 of 2020 closed.

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WP No. 2516 of 2020

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 09-02-2026

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CORAM

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THE HON'BLE DR.JUSTICE ANITA SUMANTH

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AND

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THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR

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WP No. 2516 of 2020

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AND WMP NOS. 2929 and 2931 OF 2020

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Anbu Nilayam Physically Handicapped Self Employed Welfare Association Rep. by its Secretary No 23, Narasimhan Nagar, 4^th Street, Chennai-600012.

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..Petitioner(s)

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The Secretary to Government Local Bodies Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort.St.George, Chennai-600009.

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The Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation, Rippon Buildings, Chennai-600003.

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The Zonal Officer/ Chairman, Township Vending Committee, Zone V, Greater Chennai Corporation, Basin Bridge Road, Chennai-600021.

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..Respondent(s)

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__________ Page1 of 5

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

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WP No. 2516 of 2020

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Prayer: Writ petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for issuance of writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the Proceedings of the 3^rd Respondent dated 30.08.2019 and quash the same and to forbear the Respondents 2 and 3, their officials, servants, agents them from interfering with the running of the bunk shops run by the members of the Petitioner’s Association in the roadside of margin of Egmore, Chennai 600 008, as set out in the list of members.

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For Petitioner(s): Mr.R.Kamaraj

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For Respondent(s): Mr. Ravi Special Government Pleader (for R1)

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Mr.E.C. Ramesh Standing Counsel (for R2 & R3)

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ORDER

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(Order of the Court was made by Dr.Anita Sumanth J.)

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The petitioner, an association claiming to represent physically

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handicapped self employed persons has challenged proceedings of the 3^rd respondent i.e. the Zonal Officer/Chairman, Township Vending Committee (TVC), Zone-V, dated 30.08.2019. The petitioner has annexed a list of members numbering 37 and according to Mr.R.Kamaraj, learned counsel representing the petitioner association, the members, by and large, have their bunks in and around Egmore area.

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2.Since the writ petition has been instituted in 2020 and we are given to

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

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WP No. 2516 of 2020

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understand that the tenure of a Town Vending Committee is five (5) years, we

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had, vide order dated 04.02.2026, directed Mr.E.C.Ramesh, who appears for the

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Greater Chennai Corporation to provide a copy of the latest proceedings of the

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Vending Zone. Our order dated 04.02.2026 reads as follows:

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‘The writ petition is of 2020 vintage and the petitioner is aggrieved by the non-selection of his area as a vending zone by the Town Vending Committee (TVC).

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2. Pleadings have been completed in the matter but the counter is of the year 2020.

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3. Mr.E.C.Ramesh, who appears for the Greater Chennai Corporation confirms that the composition of TVC has changed and new proceedings have been issued stipulating the area earmarked as vending and non-vending zones. To be noted that every such proceeding of the TVC which earmarks zones as either vending or non-vending zone, has a limited tenure.

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4. In light of the change in the circumstances between the time of institution of writ petition and today, Mr.E.C.Ramesh is directed to file a copy of the latest proceedings of the TVC, and also confirm whether the area which is the subject matter of the present petition has been earmarked as vending or non-vending zones. Let a copy be served in advance upon the other side.

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5. List on 09.02.2026 immediately after admission and miscellaneous work.’

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3.Mr.E.C.Ramesh, has circulated a copy of the Tamilnadu Government

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Gazette dated 24.07.2025 setting out the demarcation of vending and nonvending zones. According to him, the area in which the members of the petitioner association have their bunks has been designated as a non-vending zone, which position, learned counsel for the petitioner objects to. This being a question of fact, we permit the members of the petitioner association to approach the TVC by way of appropriate representations for issuance of licence,

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Page3 of 5

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

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WP No. 2516 of 2020

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that may be considered by the Committee in accordance with law and in a

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timely manner. No costs. Connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

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(A.S.M.,J.) (M.S.K.,J.) 09-02-2026