Ammasi Vs The Governemnt of Tamil nadu — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

Ammasi Vs The Governemnt of Tamil nadu — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No relief to the petitioners as prayed; instead, respondent authorities directed to clear the encroachments and report compliance to the Court, matter listed on 20.07.2026; connected Miscellaneous Petition closed, no costs.

Issue for consideration

Whether a writ of mandamus should issue directing the Block Development Officer, Ulundurpet Taluk (3rd respondent), to dispose of the petitioners' appeal dated 15.04.2025 against the notice dated 28.03.2025 issued under Section 7 of the Tamil Nadu Land Encroachment Act 1905. +1 more

Ratio / Principle

The Court recorded its view that the petitioners have, since 2016, under one pretext or another and by suppressing facts, perpetuated their illegal occupation of the lake area, and continue to resist the Government's process of providing alternate sites.

Key takeaways

The respondent authorities were directed to clear the encroachments in the lake area and report to the Court; the mandamus and stay sought by the petitioners were not granted.ratio¶42
The Writ Petition stands disposed of with the above directions; consequently the connected Miscellaneous Petition (W.M.P.No. 28992 of 2026) is closed, with no costs.ratio¶47
The matter was posted for reporting compliance on 20.07.2026.ratio

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (order by Dr. G. Jayachandran J, bench of G. Jayachandran and N. Mala, JJ.; 13-07-2026) disposed of a writ petition by ten residents seeking a writ of mandamus under Article 226 of the Constitution directing the Block Development Officer, Ulundurpet Taluk, Kallakurichi District, to decide their appeal dated 15.04.2025 against a notice dated 28.03.2025 issued under Section 7 of the Tamil Nadu Land Encroachment Act 1905, and restraining coercive eviction from Survey Nos. 138 and 139 of Kanaiyar Village Lake. The Court noted the pendency of the representation and the Government's stand that a Section 6 notice dated 16.06.2025 had been issued and alternative sites allotted. Observing that the petitioners had persisted in illegal occupation of the lake area since 2016 while resisting the offer of alternate sites, the Court declined the mandamus/stay and directed the respondent authorities to clear the encroachments and report to the Court, posting the matter for reporting compliance to 20.07.2026. Connected W.M.P. closed; no costs.

WP No. 26501 of 2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 13-07-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE DR JUSTICE G. JAYACHANDRAN AND

THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE N. MALA

Writ Petition No. 26501 of 2026 and

W.M.P.No. 28992 of 2026

Ammasi

Arumugham

Venkatesan

Chandrasekar

Lakshmi

Periannan

Velmurugan

Manikandan

Chitra

10.Veerakannan

..Petitioners

Vs

The Government of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Secretary, Revenue Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.

The District collector office of the Collectorate, Kallakurichi District.

The Block Development officer Ulundurpet, Kallakurichi District.

The Revenue Tahsildar Ulundurpet, Kallakurichi District.

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WP No. 26501 of 2026

5. The Village Administrative officer Kanaiyar Village, Kallakurichi District.

..Respondents

Prayer: Writ Petition has been filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to issue Writ of Mandamus, directing the Block Development officer, Ulundurpet Taluk, Kallakurichi District, the 3^rd respondent herein to dispose of the Appeal filed by the petitioners dated 15.04.2025 against the notice issued under Section 7 of the Tamil Nadu Land Encroachment Act 1905 dated 28.03.2025 to all the petitioners and further direction to the respondents not to take any coercive steps in evicting the petitioners from their respective land and houses in Survey No.138, 139 in Kanaiyar Village Lake, Ulundurpet Taluk, Kallakurichi District.

For Petitioners: Mr.K Balakrishnan For Respondents: Mr.K.Surendar Government Advocate

ORDER

( Order of the Court was made by Dr.G.Jayachandran J .) This Writ Petition has been filed seeking the issuance of a Writ of

Mandamus, directing the Block Development officer, Ulundurpet Taluk, Kallakurichi District, the 3^rd respondent herein to dispose of the Appeal filed by

the petitioners dated 15.04.2025 against the notice issued under Section 7 of the Tamil Nadu Land Encroachment Act 1905 dated 28.03.2025 to all the petitioners and further direction to the respondents not to take any coercive steps in evicting the petitioners from their respective land and houses in Survey

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WP No. 26501 of 2026

No.138, 139 in Kanaiyar Village Lake, Ulundurpet Taluk, Kallakurichi District.

2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that a representation to the Block Development Officer against the notice issued under Section 7 of the Tamil Nadu Land Encroachment Act, 1905, is pending and during the pendency of the said representation, there should be a stay of operation of the notice for eviction.

3. The learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents submitted that a notice under Section 6 of the Act has already been issued to the petitioners as early as 16.06.2025. He further submitted that the petitioners are now seeking consideration of their representation dated 28.03.2025 by suppressing the fact about the issuance of the Section 6 notice as well as the allotment of alternative sites to the petitioners and other encroachers.

4. It is seen that the petitioners since 2016, under one pretext or another by suppressing the facts have been perpetually their illegal occupation in the lake area. This, despite the fact the Government has come forward to provide alternate sites, the process which the petitioners continue to resist. Hence, the respondent authorities are directed to clear the encroachments and report to this Court.

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WP No. 26501 of 2026

5. With the above directions, this Writ Petition stands disposed of .

Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. No costs.

6. Post the matter for reporting compliance, on 20.07.2026.

(Dr.G.J.,J.) (N.M.,J.) 13-07-2026

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

rpl

To

1.The Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu Revenue Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.

2.The District collector office of the Collectorate, Kallakurichi District.

3.The Block Development officer Ulundurpet, Kallakurichi District.

4.The Revenue Tahsildar Ulundurpet, Kallakurichi District.

5.The Village Administrative officer Kanaiyar Village, Kallakurichi District.

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WP No. 26501 of 2026

DR.G.JAYACHANDRAN J. and N.MALA J.

rpl

Writ Petition No. 26501 of 2026 and W.M.P.No. 28992 of 2026

13-07-2026

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