Gunasekaran Vs The Secretary to Government — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

Gunasekaran Vs The Secretary to Government — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ petition disposed of without quashing the notification; petitioner given liberty to revive the petition if Kombaipatti Hamlet is not restored to Kombaipatti Kanakkanpatti Village Panchayat, Palani Taluk, Dindigul District within the stipulated time (four months, per the recorded Government undertaking); no costs; connected miscellaneous petitions (W.M.P.(MD)Nos.6628 & 6629 of 2026) closed.

Issue for consideration

Whether the Gazette Notification dated 31.12.2025 (Na.Ka.No.A2/2490/2023) including Kombaipatti Hamlet within Pachilanayakkanpatti Village Panchayat, Palani Taluk, Dindigul District should be quashed in respect of Sl.No.2, and the Hamlet retained under the Panchayat Administration of Kanakkanpatti Village Panchayat.

Court's answer

The Court recorded the submission of the Special Government Pleader for the 7th respondent that proceedings dated 14.02.2026 issued by the Additional Secretary to Government direct publication of a Government Order to exclude Kombaipatti Hamlet from Pachilanayakkanpatti Village Panchayat and restore it to Kombaipatti Kanakkanpatti Village Panchayat, with the exercise to be completed within four months.

Ratio / Principle

In view of the subsequent development, nothing survives for further consideration in this writ petition.

Key takeaways

The writ petition is disposed of with liberty granted to the petitioner to revive the petition in the event the said village is not restored to Kombaipatti Kanakkanpatti Village Panchayat within the stipulated time; no costs; consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.ratio¶¶35

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court, Madurai Bench (Hemant Chandangoudar, J.), disposed of W.P.(MD)No.8090 of 2026 filed under Article 226 read with prayer for Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, challenging the Gazette Notification in Na.Ka.No.A2/2490/2023 dated 31.12.2025 issued by the 4th respondent (District Collector/Inspector of Panchayat, Dindigul District) insofar as Sl.No.2 included Kombaipatti Hamlet within Pachilanayakkanpatti Village Panchayat, Palani Taluk, Dindigul District, and seeking the Hamlet's retention under the Panchayat Administration of Kanakkanpatti Village Panchayat. During hearing, the Special Government Pleader for the 7th respondent placed on record proceedings dated 14.02.2026 of the Additional Secretary to Government addressed to the District Collector directing publication of a Government Order to exclude Kombaipatti Hamlet from Pachilanayakkanpatti Village Panchayat and restore it to Kombaipatti Kanakkanpatti Village Panchayat, undertaking completion within four months. Recording the submission, the Court found nothing survived for consideration and disposed of the petition, granting liberty to revive it if the village was not restored within the stipulated time; no costs; connected miscellaneous petitions closed.

W.P(MD)No.8090 of 2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED: 25.03.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR

W.P.(MD)No.8090 of 2026 and W.M.P.(MD)No.6628 & 6629 of 2026

1.Gunasekaran

2.Maruthamuthu ... Petitioners

vs.

1.The Secretary to Government Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department Secretariat Chennai 600 009.

2.The Secretary to Government Revenue and Disaster Management Department Secretariat Chennai 600 009.

3.The Commissioner of Revenue Administration Ezhilagam Chepauk Chennai 600 005.

4.The District Collector /Inspector of Panchayat Dindigul District Dindigul.

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5.The Assistant Director of Panchayat Collectorate Complex Dindigul Dindigul District.

W.P(MD)No.8090 of 2026

6.The Tahsildar Palani taluk Palani Dindigul District.

7.The Block Development Officer (Village Panchayat) Palani taluk Dindigul District. ... Respondents

PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records of the impugned Gazette Notification issued by the 4th respondent in Na.Ka.No.A2/2490/2023 dated 31.12.2025 and Quash the same in respect of Sl.No.2 and consequently directing the respondents to drop the proposal of including Kombaipatti Hamlet within Pachilanayakkanpatti Village Panchayat, Palani Taluk, Dindigul District and consequently ensure to retain the Kombaipatti Hamlet under the Panchayat Administration of Kanakkanpatti Village Panchayat, Palani Taluk, Dindigul District, by considering the petitioners representation dated 06.03.2026.

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W.P(MD)No.8090 of 2026

For Petitioner :Mr.A.Arul Jenifer for M/s.KBS Law Office For Respondents :Mr.S.S.Madhavan – for R1 to R6 Additional Government Pleader Mrs.D.Farjana Ghousia – for R7 Special Government Pleader

O R D E R

The petitioner is before this Court challenging the Gazette Notification issued by the 4th respondent in Na.Ka.No.A2/2490/2023 dated 31.12.2025, insofar as it relates to the inclusion of Kombaipatti Hamlet within Pachilanayakkanpatti Village Panchayat, Palani Taluk, Dindigul District.

The learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the 7th respondent has placed on record the proceedings, dated 14.02.2026, issued by the Additional Secretary to Government, addressed to the District Collector concerned, directing the publication of a Government Order to exclude Kombaipatti Hamlet from Pachilanayakkanpatti Village Panchayat, Palani Taluk, Dindigul District, and to restore it to

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W.P(MD)No.8090 of 2026

Kombaipatti Kanakkanpatti Village Panchayat, Palani Taluk, Dindigul District. She further submitted that the entire exercise will be completed within a period of four months from today.

The said submission is recorded.

In view of the subsequent development, nothing survives for

further consideration in this writ petition. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of, granting liberty to the petitioner to revive the petition in the event the said village is not restored to Kombaipatti Kanakkanpatti Village Panchayat, Palani Taluk, Dindigul District within the stipulated time. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

25.03.2026

Index :Yes / No NCC :Yes / No

rm

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W.P(MD)No.8090 of 2026

To

1.The Secretary to Government Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department Secretariat Chennai 600 009.

2.The Secretary to Government Revenue and Disaster Management Department Secretariat Chennai 600 009.

3.The Commissioner of Revenue Administration Ezhilagam Chepauk Chennai 600 005.

4.The District Collector /Inspector of Panchayat Dindigul District Dindigul. 5.The Assistant Director of Panchayat Collectorate Complex Dindigul Dindigul District.

6.The Tahsildar Palani taluk Palani Dindigul District.

7.The Block Development Officer (Village Panchayat) Palani taluk Dindigul District

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W.P(MD)No.8090 of 2026

HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.

rm

W.P.(MD)No.8090 of 2026

25.03.2026

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