P.Lingasamy v. The District Collector/Monitoring committee
Mandamus – Encroachment of water bodies
Case brief
What is this about?
Water body encroachment; removal of encroachments; Odai; River; standing trees; restoration of water bodies; survey No.1129 Rajapalayam Village; survey No.1059 Ayankolankondan-II village; Rajapalayam Taluk; Virudhunagar District; Tahsildar as competent authority; Monitoring Committee; District Collector; District Revenue Officer; Revenue Divisional Officer Sathur; statutory notice and hearing to encroachers; four-month compliance timeline; Writ of Mandamus; Article 226 Constitution of India; writ petition disposed without costs; notice to private parties dispensed; Madurai Bench of Madras High Court; G.R.Swaminathan; B.Pugalendhi; 05.03.2026.
What did the court decide?
The writ petition was disposed of with directions implementing the mandamus sought: the fourth respondent (Tahsildar) to initiate the statutory process against respondents 5 and 6 with due hearing, and, if satisfied of encroachment of the 'River'/'Odai' classified water bodies, to remove the encroachments including standing trees and restore the water bodies, completing the exercise within four months; no costs.