J.Selvam Vs the Commissioner — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

J.Selvam Vs the Commissioner — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Court recorded the Greater Chennai Corporation's partial performance (debris cleared, kaccha road made usable on 12.02.2026) and directed that, once the adjacent water body is protected, the Corporation shall take all steps necessary to black-top/lay concrete on the road; the writ petition was closed with no costs ordered.

Issue for consideration

Whether respondents 1-3 (Greater Chennai Corporation authorities) should be directed, by writ of mandamus under Article 226, to act upon the petitioner's representation dated 07.11.2025 for reconstruction of the road at Athipattu Village, Survey No. 96 (Part), Ward 'G', Block No. 21, Town Survey No.35 (about 880 square metres), unused since 2018. +1 more

Court's answer

The court records that the prayer of the petitioner seeking the opening and maintenance of the road has been partly performed by the Greater Chennai Corporation, which has cleared the debris and formed a 'kaccha' (usable) road in the survey number, as evidenced by photographs produced before it.

Ratio / Principle

Once the water body adjacent to the road is protected, the Greater Chennai Corporation shall take all steps necessary to black-top or lay concrete on the road; thereafter the writ petition is closed without costs.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

MADRAS HIGH COURT (V. Lakshminarayanan, J., 13-02-2026) — WP No. 628 of 2026: Writ of mandamus under Article 226 by J.Selvam directing the Greater Chennai Corporation (Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner Ambattur Zone 7, Executive Engineer Zone-7) to consider his representation dated 07.11.2025 for reconstruction of a road at Athipattu Village, Ambattur, Survey No. 96 (Part), Ward 'G', Block No. 21, Town Survey No.35, measuring about 880 sq.mts., connecting Maduravoyal Bypass to Vanagaram, unused since 2018. The Corporation, invoking its statutory road-maintenance mandate under the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998, reported (12.02.2026) that the road area had been cleared of debris and made usable as a 'kaccha' road, with black-topping deferred pending protection of the adjacent water body; the Project Director, National Highways stood impleaded suo motu (order dated 02.02.2026). The court recorded the partial performance, held that once the water body is protected the Corporation shall take all steps necessary to black-top/lay concrete on the road, and closed the petition without costs.

WP No. 628 of 2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 13-02-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE V. LAKSHMINARAYANAN

WP No. 628 of 2026

J.Selvam

..Petitioner(s)

Vs

1.The Commissioner Greater Chennai Corporation, Ribbon Building, Chennai 600 003

2.The Assistant Commissioner Greater Chennai Corporation, Ambattur Zone 7, Chennai 600 053.

3.The Executive Engineer Zone -7, Greater Chennai Corporation, Ambattur, Chennai 600 053. 4.The Project Director, National Highways, Chennai. (R4, Suo Motu Impleaded vide Order dated 02.02.2026 made in WP.No.628/2026 by VLNJ)

..Respondent(s)

__________ Page1 of 9

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

WP No. 628 of 2026

Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking writ of mandamus, directing the (1st -3rd) respondent to consider the representation dated 07.11.2025 regarding reconstruction of Road at Athipattu Village, bearing Survey No. 96 (Part), Ward ‘G’, Block No. 21, Town Survey No.35, measuring about 880 square metres for public usage which was not in use since 2018 .

For Petitioner(s): Mr.M.Ponmudi

For Respondent(s): Ms.Lavanya, for Mr. E.C. Ramesh, For R1 To R3. Ms. S.R. Sumathy, Standing Counsel (NHAI) for R4.

ORDER

Heard Mr.M.Ponmudi, learned counsel for the petitioner,

Mr.E.C.Ramesh, learned Standing Counsel for the Greater Chennai Corporation

and Ms. S.R. Sumathy, learned Standing Counsel for the fourth respondent.

The issue in this Writ Petition is regarding a road situated in Athipattu

Village, Ambattur, bearing Survey No.96 (Part), Ward ‘G’, Block No.21, Town Survey No.35, measuring an extent of 880 sq.mts. The grievance of the petitioner is that, though the said land has been earmarked for a road to connect Maduravoyal Bypass to Vanagaram, the same has not been maintained, as such, by the Greater Chennai Corporation. The said public road, which falls within the jurisdiction of the Greater Chennai Corporation, has to be maintained by

Page2 of 9

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

WP No. 628 of 2026

them in an appropriate manner, as mandated under the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act of 1998. Taking into consideration this statutory duty, I called upon Mr.E.C. Ramesh, learned Standing Counsel for the Greater Chennai Corporation, to get instructions in this regard.

Mr. E.C. Ramesh, reported that in this survey number there are three parts, one being used as a graveyard/crematorium, another as a water body and the third as a road. He states that on 12.02.2026, the road area has been cleared of all debris and has been made usable. However, the black topping/laying of concrete could not be carried on by the Greater Chennai Corporation since steps have to be taken first to protect the water body and thereafter, to lay the road. He sought time to produce photographs with respect to the area concerned in this Writ Petition.

Mr. E.C. Ramesh has produced the photographs today. They show that a ‘kaccha’ road has been formed in the aforesaid survey number. The water body is also seen adjacent to this road. As the prayer of the petitioner seeking the opening and maintenance of the road has been partly performed by the Greater Chennai Corporation, the same is recorded. The photographs are scanned and extracted hereunder:

Page3 of 9

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

WP No. 628 of 2026

__________ Page4 of 9

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

WP No. 628 of 2026

__________ Page5 of 9

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

WP No. 628 of 2026

__________ Page6 of 9

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

WP No. 628 of 2026

__________ Page7 of 9

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

WP No. 628 of 2026

Once the water body is protected, the Greater Chennai Corporation

shall take all steps necessary to black-top/lay concrete on the road. Accordingly,

this Writ Petition is closed. No costs.

13-02-2026

Index: Yes/No

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

To

1.The Commissioner Greater Chennai Corporation, Ribbon Building, Chennai 600 003.

2.The Assistant Commissioner Greate Chennai Corporation, Ambattur Zone 7, Chennai 600 053.

3.The Executive Engineer Zone -7 Greater Chennai Corporation, Ambattur, Chennai 600 053.

4.The Project Director, National Highways, Chennai.

__________ Page8 of 9

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

WP No. 628 of 2026

V.LAKSHMINARAYANAN, J.

PVS

WP No. 628 of 2026

13-02-2026

__________ Page9 of 9

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