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R.Saravanan Vs the Tahsildar — Madras HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

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Madras HC
2026
R.Saravanan Vs the TahsildarR.Saravanan v. the Tahsildar

Disposed¶29

R.Saravanan v. the Tahsildar

Writ of Mandamus – drainage construction

Madras HC23 Jan 2026WP/34752/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Madras High Court, WP No. 34752 of 2025, disposed 23-01-2026 (order by S.M. Subramaniam J.; bench S.M. Subramaniam & C. Kumarappan JJ). Writ of mandamus seeking construction of a 300-meter-long road-edge drainage in S.Nos. 86/0 and 48/3, Perutharakudi and Kullikarai Villages, Tiruvarur, by acting on the Tahsildar's inter-departmental letter dated 19.07.2023 (Na.Ka.3032/2022/Aa2); refers to earlier order in W.P.No.9472 of 2022. Held: inter-departmental communications give no writ cause; drainage construction is a government policy decision involving finances, public interest and expert report; judicial review cannot compel policy approval; disposed with observation that authorities should consider local grievances. Keywords: mandamus, drainage, policy decision, inter-departmental communication, judicial review, Tiruvarur.

What did the court decide?

No relief granted; the writ petition was disposed of with the Court's above observation.

Why is it important?

An inter-departmental communication between authorities does not provide any cause for the institution of a writ petition. ¶24

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No relief granted; the writ petition was disposed of with the Court's above observation.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents should be directed to act on the Tahsildar's communication dated 19.07.2023 and construct a 300-meter-long drainage system along the road edges in S.Nos. 86/0 and 48/3 of Perutharakudi and Kullikarai Villages, Tiruvarur District, within a time frame fixed by the Court. +1 more

Ratio / Principle

An inter-departmental communication between authorities does not provide any cause for the institution of a writ petition.

Key takeaways

The High Court, in exercise of its power of judicial review, cannot direct the Government to approve a policy regarding construction of a drainage system.ratio¶24
Construction of a drainage system is a policy decision to be taken by the competent authority.ratio¶24
The decision rests with the appropriate authority of the government, since it involves financial implication and public interest and an expert report is to be obtained.ratio

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ of Mandamus - drainage construction - petitioner sought a direction to respondents to act on the Tahsildar's letter dated 19.07.2023 (Na.Ka.3032/2022/Aa2) and construct a 300-meter-long drainage along road edges in S.Nos. 86/0 and 48/3 of Perutharakudi and Kullikarai Villages, Tiruvarur District. HELD: the letter was an inter-departmental communication, which provides no cause for a writ petition; construction of a drainage system is a policy decision for the competent authority, involving financial implication, public interest and an expert report; the High Court in judicial review cannot direct the Government to approve such a policy; such writ petitions deserve no merits consideration, though authorities should look into local grievances for public interest. Writ petition disposed of. (Bench: S.M. Subramaniam and C. Kumarappan, JJ.; order by S.M. Subramaniam J.)

A

WP No. 34752 of 2025

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 23-01-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S. M. SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN

WP No. 34752 of 2025

R.Saravanan

S/o. Ramachandran, 6/217-a, Chinna Kadai Street, Ottakudi East, Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society, Kulikkarai, Tiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu-614713

..Petitioner(s)

Vs

The Tahsildar Tiruvarur Taluk,

Assistant Engineer (water Resource Department) Vennar Irrigation Division No.1, Tiruvarur.

Assistant Divisional Engineer Highways Department, Construction (m) Maintenance, Tiruvarur.

Public Works Department Tiruvarur

..Respondent(s)

directing the 2nd and 3rd and 4th Respondents to act on the communication letter issued by the 1st Respondent in Na.Ka.3032/2022/Aa2 dated 19.07.2023 and construct a 300-Meter-Long drainage system in edge of the roads in S.Nos. 86/0 and 48/3 Perutharakudi and Kullikarai Villages, Tiruvarur District, within a time frame set by this Honble Court

1

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

WP No. 34752 of 2025

For Petitioner(s): Mr.Mohammed Faizal A For Respondent(s): Mr.A.Selvendran, Sgp For RR 1 To 4.

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by S.M.Subramaniam J.)

Writ of Mandamus has been instituted to direct the respondents 3 and 4 to act on the communication letter issued by the 1^st respondent in proceedings dated 19.07.2023 and construct a 300 meter long drainage system in edge of the roads in S.Nos. 86/0 and 48/3 Perutharakudi and Kullikarai Villages, Tiruvarur District.

Perusal of the letter dated 19.07.2023 would show that it is an inter departmental communication sent by the Tahsildar, Thiruvar to the Assistant Engineer, (Water Resources Organisation), Vennar Irrigation Division No.1, Tiruvarur. Construction of drainage system is a policy decision to be taken by the competent authority. Based on the request of the petitioner and some other persons and in view of the order passed by the High Court in W.P.No.9472 of 2022, the Tahsildar, Tiruvarur, addressed a letter to the Assistant Engineer, Water Resource Organisation. Inter departmental communication between the authorities would not provide any cause for institution of writ petition. The High Court, in exercise of power of judicial review cannot direct the Government to approve a policy regarding construction of drainage system. It is for the appropriate authority of the

2

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

WP No. 34752 of 2025

government to take a decision, since it involves financial implication and public interest and expert report is to be obtained. There are several procedures which are to be following for implementation of public related project. Therefore, such nature of writ petitions deserve no merits consideration. However, if at all there is any grievance of the people in that locality for construction of drainage system, the authorities have to look into the same for public interest.

With the above observation, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. No

costs.

(S.M.S.,J.) (C.K.,J.) 23-01-2026

Index: Yes/No

Speaking/Non-speaking order

Neutral Citation: Yes/No

VSI To

The Tahsildar Tiruvarur Taluk,

Assistant Engineer (water Resource Department) Vennar Irrigation Division No.1, Tiruvarur.

Assistant Divisional Engineer Highways Department, Construction (m) Maintenance, Tiruvarur.

Public Works Department Tiruvarur

3

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

WP No. 34752 of 2025

S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J. AND C.KUMARAPPAN, J.

VSI

WP No. 34752 of 2025

23-01-2026

5.

4

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

Issues for consideration

2 issues framed by the court

AI extract

1.
Whether the respondents should be directed to act on the Tahsildar's communication dated 19.07.2023 and construct a 300-meter-long drainage system along the road edges in S.Nos. 86/0 and 48/3 of Perutharakudi and Kullikarai Villages, Tiruvarur District, within a time frame fixed by the Court.¶23
2.
Whether an inter-departmental communication between authorities furnishes a cause for a writ petition, and whether the High Court in judicial review can direct the Government to approve a policy on drainage construction.¶24
The court held
An inter-departmental communication between authorities does not provide any cause for the institution of a writ petition.ratio¶24

Cases cited

Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority

AI extract

W.P.No.9472 of 2022Referred¶24

Procedural history

How this case reached the court

AI extract

Prior proceeding
Letter Na.Ka.3032/2022/Aa2 dated 19.07.2023 addressed by the Tahsildar to the Assistant Engineer, Water Resources Organisation, Vennar Irrigation Division No.1, Tiruvarur - identified by the Court as an inter-departmental communication.¶24
Prior proceeding
The Tahsildar's letter was issued on the request of the petitioner and other persons and in view of a prior High Court order in W.P.No.9472 of 2022.¶24

Parties & counsel

AI extract

petitioner
R.Saravanan¶7
Mohammed Faizal A
respondent
The Tahsildar Tiruvarur Taluk¶11
A.Selvendran
respondent
Assistant Engineer (water Resource Department) Vennar Irrigation Division No.1, Tiruvarur¶12
A.Selvendran
respondent
Assistant Divisional Engineer Highways Department, Construction (m) Maintenance, Tiruvarur¶13
A.Selvendran
respondent
Public Works Department Tiruvarur¶14
A.Selvendran

Coram

AI extract

S.M. Subramaniamauthor¶22
C. Kumarappanmember¶5

Case details

As recorded by the court registry

Court: Madras HC
Decided on: 23 Jan 2026 · January
Registered: 10 Sept 2025
Case no.: WP/34752/2025
CNR: HCMA011841692025
Bench: S. M. Subramaniam C.kumarappan
Disposal: DISPOSED OF
Case type: WP

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Cite this judgement

R.Saravanan v. the Tahsildar, WP/34752/2025 (MAD), decided on 23 January 2026.

The Madras High Court publishes no neutral citation for this judgement — cite it by case number and date of decision.

Cases cited1

W.P.No.9472 of 2022Referred¶24

Open Authorities

Procedural history2

Letter Na.Ka.3032/2022/Aa2 dated 19.07.2023 addressed by the Tahsildar to the Assistant Engineer, Water Resources Organisation, Vennar Irrigation Division No.1, Tiruvarur - identified by the Court as an inter-departmental communication.
The Tahsildar's letter was issued on the request of the petitioner and other persons and in view of a prior High Court order in W.P.No.9472 of 2022.

View full history

Bench / Coram

S.M. Subramaniam and C. Kumarappan

Parties & counsel

View all holdings →