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

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

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ petition disposed of with a direction to the fourth respondent to conduct an enquiry with all concerned parties and, subject to technical feasibility, consider drawing the electricity line along the margin/boundary of the lands without erecting tower lines in the middle of agricultural lands or affecting neighbouring land owners, completing the exercise within six weeks; no order as to costs; connected Miscellaneous Petitions (W.M.P(MD)Nos.3044, 3047 & 14622 of 2026) closed. The prayer to quash the rejection order was not granted by any quashing direction.

Issue for consideration

Whether the impugned order of rejection dated 15.12.2025 passed by the first respondent is illegal and arbitrary and liable to be quashed. +1 more

Ratio / Principle

The Court's inclination to issue a direction arose from the consent expressed by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the fifth respondent; the disposal was consent-based rather than an adjudication of the merits of the impugned rejection order.

Key takeaways

A direction was issued to the fourth respondent (Assistant Engineer, TANGEDCO) to conduct an enquiry with all the concerned parties.ratio¶40
In drawing the electricity line, the fourth respondent must act without affecting the agricultural lands of neighbouring land owners and without erecting tower lines in the middle of agricultural lands, and is to consider drawing the line along the margin/boundary of the lands, subject to technical feasibility.ratio¶40
The enquiry-and-routing exercise directed above shall be completed within six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (Madurai Bench), M. Dhandapani, J. (single judge) — W.P(MD)No.3740 of 2026, decided 28.07.2026. Writ petition under Article 226 of Constitution of India seeking a writ of certiorarified mandamus to quash the first respondent's (District Collector, Virudhunagar) order of rejection in Na.Ka.C4/10/8/2025 dated 15.12.2025, and to direct that High Tension Electric Towers/poles serving the fifth respondent's agricultural service connection be routed through Kuppachi Urani area instead of through the petitioner's agricultural land measuring 4.25.50 Hectares in S.No.334/1, Patta No.1452, Paralachi, Aruppukottai Taluk, Virudhunagar District. Background: the fifth respondent had sought an agricultural electricity service connection from the fourth respondent (Assistant Engineer, TANGEDCO), and the line was proposed through the middle of the petitioner's land. On the consent of counsel for the petitioner and the fifth respondent, the Court directed the fourth respondent to conduct an enquiry with all concerned parties and, without affecting neighbouring agricultural lands and without erecting tower lines in the middle of agricultural lands, to consider drawing the line along the margin/boundary of the lands, subject to technical feasibility, within six weeks of receipt of the order. Petition disposed of; no costs; connected W.M.P(MD)Nos.3044, 3047 & 14622 of 2026 closed. The legality of the rejection order itself was not adjudicated.

W.P(MD)No.3740 of 2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED: 28.07.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI

W.P(MD)No.3740 of 2026 and

W.M.P(MD)Nos.3044, 3047 & 14622 of 2026

C.Palpandi ... Petitioner

Vs

1.The District Collector, Virudhunagar District, Virudhunagar.

2.The Revenue Divisional Office,r Aruppukottai Revenue Divisional, Aruppukottai, Virudhunagar District.

3.The Executive Engineer, TANGEDCO, Aruppukottai, Virudhunagar District.

4.The Assistant Engineer, TANGEDCO, Paralachi, Aruppukottai Taluk, Virudhunagar District.

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W.P(MD)No.3740 of 2026

5.T.Pooranam

... Respondents

PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records on the file of the 1^st respondent in connection with the impugned order of rejection passed by him vide his proceedings in Na.Ka.C4/10/8/2025 dated 15.12.2025 and quash the same as illegal and arbitrary and consequently direct the respondents to take the High Tension Electric Towers or poles to the 5^th respondent's Agriculture land through Kuppachi Urani area instead of taking through and disturbing the petitioner's agriculture land to an extent of 4.25.50 Hectares in S.No.334/1 in Patta No.1452 of Paralachi, Aruppukottai Taluk, Virudhunagar District.

For Petitioner : Mr.G.Thalaimutharasu

For Respondents : Mr.R.Ramasamy (R1 & R2) Counsel for State : Mr.S.Deenadhayalan (R3 & R4) Standing Counsel : Mr.M.Mahaboob Fazil (R5) for M/s.Roy and Roy Associates

ORDER

This Writ Petition has been filed seeking issuance of a Writ of

Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records pertaining to the impugned

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W.P(MD)No.3740 of 2026

order of rejection passed by the first respondent dated 15.12.2025, quash the same, and consequently direct the respondents to draw the High Tension Electric Towers/Poles to the agricultural land of the fifth respondent through Kuppachi Urani area, instead of drawing the same through and affecting the petitioner's agricultural land measuring an extent of 4.25.50 hectares comprised in Survey No.334/1, Patta No.1452, situated at Paralachi, Aruppukottai Taluk, Virudhunagar District.

2.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the fifth respondent submitted an application before the fourth respondent seeking electricity service connection for agricultural purposes. It is submitted that, while considering the said application, the respondents proposed to draw the electricity line through the middle of the petitioner's agricultural land, thereby causing inconvenience and affecting the agricultural activities of the petitioner. Aggrieved by the same, the present Writ Petition has been filed.

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W.P(MD)No.3740 of 2026

3.The learned counsel appearing for the fifth respondent submitted that this Court may issue a direction to the respondents 3 and 4 to draw the electricity line without causing any disturbance to the agricultural lands of the neighbouring land owners. It is further submitted that the electricity line may be drawn along the boundary/margin of the lands without affecting the agricultural activities, and appropriate orders may be passed in favour of the fifth respondent.

4.In response, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that this Court may issue a direction to the fourth respondent to conduct an enquiry with all the concerned land owners and thereafter draw

the electricity line in such a manner that the agricultural operations of the land owners are not affected.

5.Considering the consent expressed by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the fifth respondent, this Court is inclined to

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W.P(MD)No.3740 of 2026

issue a direction to the fourth respondent to conduct an enquiry with all the concerned parties and, without affecting the agricultural lands of the neighbouring land owners and without erecting tower lines in the middle of the agricultural lands, consider drawing the electricity line along the margin/boundary of the lands, subject to technical feasibility. The said exercise shall be completed within a period of six (6) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

6.With the above direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.

28.07.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No ps

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W.P(MD)No.3740 of 2026

To

1.The District Collector, Virudhunagar District, Virudhunagar.

2.The Revenue Divisional Office,r Aruppukottai Revenue Divisional, Aruppukottai, Virudhunagar District.

3.The Executive Engineer, TANGEDCO, Aruppukottai, Virudhunagar District.

4.The Assistant Engineer, TANGEDCO, Paralachi, Aruppukottai Taluk, Virudhunagar District.

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M.DHANDAPANI, J.

ps

W.P(MD)No.3740 of 2026

28.07.2026

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