Dismissed¶46

Senthilkumar C v. The District Collector

Madras HC1 Jul 2026WP(MD)/18319/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Premature writ petition dismissed - certiorari against Tahsildar's show-cause notice (Na.Ka. No.3255/2026/Aa1, dt. 22.06.2026) - permission dated 13.01.2026 to draw water from Government poramboke land for irrigation - complaint by private respondent K.Gunasekaran re water scarcity - petitioner directed to appear before Tahsildar, Palani Taluk on 06.07.2026 at 5.00 p.m. with documents - orders to be passed on merits considering petitioner and fifth respondent - status quo maintained pending hearing - Article 226 Constitution of India - W.P.(MD) Madurai Bench - no costs, miscellaneous petitions closed.

What did the court decide?

The writ petition is pre-mature and is therefore liable to be dismissed, as it was filed apprehending an adverse decision and to scuttle the hearing fixed by the second respondent. ¶42

Senthilkumar C Vs The District Collector — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Dismissed

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Issue for consideration

Whether the writ petition seeking to quash the notice dated 22.06.2026 issued by the second respondent, filed before any adverse order had been passed and while only a hearing was pending, is premature.

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Court's answer

The writ petition is pre-mature and is therefore liable to be dismissed, as it was filed apprehending an adverse decision and to scuttle the hearing fixed by the second respondent.

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Ratio / Principle

The petitioner is directed to appear before the second respondent on 06.07.2026 at 5.00 p.m. with necessary documents, and the second respondent shall pass appropriate orders on merits after considering the case of both the petitioner and the fifth respondent.

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Key takeaways

Status quo as on date shall be maintained pending the hearing and decision-making exercise by the second respondent.ratio¶42

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (Madurai Bench), W.P.(MD) No. 18319 of 2026 (decided 01.07.2026, C.SARAVANAN, J.): A writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a Writ of Certiorari to quash Notice Na.Ka. No.3255/2026/Aa1 dated 22.06.2026 issued by the Tahsildar, Palani Taluk (second respondent), filed by C.Senthilkumar whose earlier permission dated 13.01.2026 to draw water from Government poramboke land for irrigation was the subject of a complaint by private respondent K.Gunasekaran alleging water scarcity, was dismissed as premature. The notice merely summoned the petitioner to a hearing (originally fixed for 25.06.2026 at 5.00 p.m.) with relevant documents, and no adverse order had yet been passed. The petitioner was directed to appear before the second respondent on 06.07.2026 at 5.00 p.m. with necessary documents; the Tahsildar was directed to pass appropriate orders on merits after considering the case of both the petitioner and the fifth respondent; status quo as on date was to be maintained pending that exercise. Dismissed without costs; connected miscellaneous petitions (W.M.P.(MD) Nos. 13553 and 13554 of 2026) closed.

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W.P.(MD) No. 18319 of 2026

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED: 01.07.2026

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CORAM:

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.SARAVANAN

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W.P.(MD) No. 18319 of 2026 and W.M.P.(MD) No.13553 & 13554 of 2026

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C.Senthilkumar ... Petitioner

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The District Collector, Collectorate, Dindigul District.

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The Tahsildar, Taluk Officer, Palani Taluk, Dindigul District.

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The Divisional Engineer (Construction and Maintenance), Highways Department, Palani, Dindigul District.

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The Executive Engineer, Nanganjiyaaru Irrigation Division, Palani, Dindigul District.

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

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W.P.(MD) No. 18319 of 2026

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K.Gunasekaran ... Respondents

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PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records relating to the impugned Notice in Na.Ka. No.3255/2026/Aa1 dated 22.06.2026 issued by the second respondent and quash the same as illegal.

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For petitioner : Mr. N.Mohan For R1 to R3 : Mr.P.Sudarkodi Natchiyar Counsel for State of TN

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ORDER

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This Writ Petition is taken up for hearing at the time of admission with the consent of the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Counsel for State of TN for the respondents 1 to 3, after dispensing with the notice for the respondents 4 and 5, as no adverse orders proposed to be passed against the respondents 4 and 5.

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The petitioner had been given permission earlier on 13.01.2026 by the second respondent for drawing water from the Government poramboke land to his

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2/7

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

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W.P.(MD) No. 18319 of 2026

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agricultural land for irrigation purpose. The aforesaid permission also stipulated

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certain conditions, which reads as under:

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epge;jidfs

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rhiyapy; Foha; gjpg;G nra;jpLk; nghOJ rhiyf;F vt;tpj ghjpg;Gk; Vw;gLj;jf;$lhJ.

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Gwk;Gfy; epyq;fspy; 3 mbf;F fPo; Foha; gjpg;G nra;Jk;. ghijfSf;F ,ilQ;ry; Vw;glhky; 3 mb Moj;jpy; igg;iyd; mikf;f Ntz;Lk;.

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3 epge;jid kPwpaJ fz;lwpag;gbd; ,e;j mDkjp Miz vt;tpj Kd;dwptpg;Gk; ,d;wp ,uj;J nra;ag;gLk;.

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4 Cu; nghJkf;fsplkpUe;J Ml;Nrgiz vJk; tug;ngwpd; ,e;j mDkjp ,uj;J nra;a NeupLk;.

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5 igg;iyd; mikg;gpy; vt;tpj khw;wKk; nra;af;$lhJ.

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igg;iyd; mikf;f cj;Njrpj;Js;s epykhdJ Ng&uhl;rpf;F fl;Lg;gl;l epykhFk;. Ng&uhl;rpf;F fl;Lg;gl;Ls;sjhy; rk;ke;jg;gl;l Jiwaplk; xg;Gjy; ngw;W Foha; gjpg;G mikj;Jf; nfhs;s Ntz;baJ.

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NkYk; Foha; gjpg;G nra;a nghJg;gzpj;Jiw> neLQ;rhiyj;Jiw kw;Wk; rk;ge;jg;gl;l Jiwfsplk; mDkjp ngw;W Foha; gjpg;G mikj;Jf; nfhs;s Ntz;baJ.

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Foha; gjpg;G Fj;jif cupkk; fhyk; KbtilAk; xU khjj;jpw;F Kd;G Foha; gjpg;G Fj;jif cupkk; GJg;gpj;J toq;f

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3/7

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

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W.P.(MD) No. 18319 of 2026

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Nfhup kDr; nra;a Ntz;Lk;.

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After the permission was granted, it appears that the private respondent had given a complaint stating that the water being drawn by the petitioner from the Government poramboke land to his agricultural land was resulting in water scarcity. Hence, acting on the complaint of the private respondent No.5, the impugned notice has been issued wherein the petitioner has been called upon to appear on 25.06.2026 at 5.00 p.m. with relevant documents. Apprehending an adverse decision, the petitioner has now filed this writ petition to scuttle to hearing fixed by the second respondent.

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In my view, this writ petition is pre-mature and is, therefore, liable to be dismissed. Therefore, I direct the petitioner to appear before the second respondent on Monday i.e., 06.07.2026 at 5.00 p.m with necessary documents to substantiate the case of the petitioner. The second respondent shall pass appropriate orders on merits after considering the case of the petitioner as also the fifth respondent herein. Pending such exercise, status quo as on date shall be maintained.

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

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W.P.(MD) No. 18319 of 2026

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