R.N.Chellapandiyan Vs The District Collector — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

R.N.Chellapandiyan Vs The District Collector — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Direction to the District Collector (first respondent) to consider the petitioner's representation dated 18.12.2025, pass appropriate orders on merits and in accordance with law, and instruct the appropriate local body to take necessary action for installation of street lights, to be completed within four months of receipt of a copy of the order; no order as to costs.

Issue for consideration

Whether a writ of mandamus should issue directing the respondents to construct safety walls and provide street lighting on the Melakkal Bridge, Melakkal-Sholavandan Road, Madurai District, acting on the petitioner's representation dated 18.12.2025.

Court's answer

The first respondent, namely the District Collector, is directed to consider the petitioner's representation dated 18.12.2025 and pass appropriate orders on merits and in accordance with law.

Ratio / Principle

The District Collector is further directed to instruct the appropriate local body to take necessary action for installation of street lights.

Key takeaways

The above exercise shall be completed within a period of four months from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.ratio¶32

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

WRIT PETITION (PUBLIC SAFETY / MANDAMUS) — Madras High Court, Madurai Bench — W.P(MD)No.10251 of 2026, disposed of on 10.04.2026 (N. Sathish Kumar and M. Jothiraman, JJ.; order authored by N. Sathish Kumar, J.). Filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of mandamus to direct construction of safety walls and provision of electricity/street lighting on either side of the Melakkal Bridge, Melakkal-Sholavandan Road, Madurai District, pursuant to the petitioner's representation dated 18.12.2025. Background stated in the petition: a check dam constructed across the Vaigai River keeps water filled on both sides of the bridge; school vans and other vehicles use the bridge daily; the bridge allegedly lacks protective side walls/railings and street lighting, causing poor night visibility and accidents, particularly two-wheeler riders falling from the bridge; the representation of 18.12.2025 drew no action. Respondents' counsel stated the bridge is a submersible bridge with two pillars (restored when damaged) and that street lighting falls to the local body. HELD: the first respondent, the District Collector, was directed to consider the representation dated 18.12.2025 and pass appropriate orders on merits and in accordance with law, and to instruct the appropriate local body to take necessary action for installation of street lights, completing the exercise within four months from receipt of a copy of the order; writ petition disposed of; no order as to costs.

W.P(MD)No.10251 of 2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED : 10.04.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN

W.P(MD)No.10251 of 2026

R.N.Chellapandiyan

... Petitioner

vs.

1.The District Collector, Collectorate, Madurai.

2.The Superintending Engineer, Public Works Department, Colonel John Penny Cuick Complex, Thallakulam, Madurai.

3.The Superintending Engineer, Highways Department, Madurai Region, Alagarkovil Road, Madurai – 625 002. ... Respondents

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PRAYER :

W.P(MD)No.10251 of 2026

PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to put a safety walls and electricity lights on either side of the Melakkal Bridge, Melakal to Sholavandan Road, Madurai District based on the petitioner's representation dated 18.12.2025 within a stipulated time fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.M.Suresh For Respondents : Mr.J.Ashok Additional Government Pleader

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.)

The petitioner has filed the present Writ Petition seeking a direction to the respondents to construct safety walls on either side of the Melakkal Bridge, situated on the Melakkal–Sholavandan Road, Madurai District, and to provide street lighting facilities, based on the petitioner’s representation dated 18.12.2025.

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W.P(MD)No.10251 of 2026

2.The petitioner states that a check dam has been constructed across the Vaigai River with the objective of improving groundwater levels, which in turn supports wells supplying drinking water to the Madurai Corporation. Due to this, the river remains filled with water on both sides of the bridge.

3.It is submitted that a large number of vehicles, including school vans transporting children, use the Melakkal Bridge on a daily basis. However, the bridge allegedly lacks essential safety features such as protective side walls or railings. Further, there is no provision for street lighting on the bridge, resulting in poor visibility during night hours.

4.The petitioner contends that, due to the absence of such safety measures, several accidents have occurred, particularly involving twowheeler riders who have fallen from the bridge owing to low visibility. In this regard, the petitioner submitted a representation dated 18.12.2025 to the 3/6

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W.P(MD)No.10251 of 2026

respondents, seeking installation of safety walls and street lights on the Melakkal Bridge to prevent accidents. Since no action has been taken on the said representation, the petitioner has approached this Court by filing the present Writ Petition seeking appropriate directions.

5.The learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents submitted that, insofar as the pillars are concerned, the bridge is a submersible bridge with only two pillars, and whenever any damage occurs, the same is restored. With regard to street lighting, it is submitted that the concerned local body has to take appropriate action.

6.In view of the above, the first respondent, namely the District Collector, is directed to consider the petitioner’s representation dated 18.12.2025 and pass appropriate orders on merits and in accordance with law and to instruct the appropriate local body to take necessary action for installation of street lights. Such exercise shall be completed within a period of four months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

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W.P(MD)No.10251 of 2026

7.With the above directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of.

There shall be no order as to costs.

[N.S.K.,J.] [M.J.R.,J.] 10.04.2026

NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes ps To

1.The District Collector, Collectorate, Madurai.

2.The Superintending Engineer, Public Works Department, Colonel John Penny Cuick Complex, Thallakulam, Madurai.

3.The Superintending Engineer, Highways Department, Madurai Region, Alagarkovil Road, Madurai – 625 002.

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W.P(MD)No.10251 of 2026

N.SATHISH KUMAR, J. and M.JOTHIRAMAN, J.

ps

W.P(MD)No.10251 of 2026

DATED : 10.04.2026

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