Ravibharathi Vs The District Collector/Monitoring… — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

Ravibharathi Vs The District Collector/Monitoring… — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ of mandamus granted: respondents 1 to 3 to remove the fourth respondent's fencing obstructing the nilaviyal odai in survey Nos.169 and 170, Virupatchi, after issuing notice to the fourth respondent, completing the exercise within eight weeks of receipt of a copy of the order; no costs.

Issue for consideration

Whether respondents 1 to 3 should be directed by writ of mandamus to remove the encroachment (fencing) made by the fourth respondent in the Perumakulam channel and the abutting cart track in survey Nos.169 and 170 at Virupatchi, Oddanchatram Taluk, Dindigul District, which obstructs the free flow of water through the nilaviyal odai, by considering the petitioner's representation dated 06.02.2026.

Court's answer

The authorities confirmed that the fourth respondent had put up a fencing and that it is obstructing the free flow of water through the nilaviyal odai running through Survey Nos.169 and 170 (Survey No.169 being a cart track and Survey No.170 patta land).

Ratio / Principle

Respondents 1 to 3 undertook that, after issuing notice to the fourth respondent, the obstruction will be removed and the entire exercise completed within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.

Key takeaways

On the basis of the confirmed obstruction and the respondents' undertaking, the writ petition stands allowed with no costs.ratio¶¶33

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Mandamus — Encroachment on watercourse — Madurai Bench of Madras High Court allowed a writ petition directing the District Collector, Tahsildar (Oddanchatram) and Executive Engineer, PWD (Nanganjiyar Basin Division) to remove the fencing put up by the fourth respondent obstructing the free flow of a nilaviyal odai through survey Nos.169 (cart track) and 170 (patta land) at Virupatchi, Oddanchatram Taluk, Dindigul District — Removal to follow notice to the fourth respondent and be completed within eight weeks of receipt of a copy of the order — No costs.

1 W.P.(MD)NO.8224 OF 2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED: 26.03.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN

AND

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI

W.P.(MD)No.8224 of 2026

Ravibharathi

... Petitioner

Vs.

The District Collector / Monitoring Committee, Dindigul District, Dindigul.

The Tahsildar, Oddanchatram Taluk, Dindigul District.

The Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Nanganjiyar Basin Division, Palani, Dindigul District.

Karthikeyan ... Respondents

Prayer: Writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 3 to remove the encroachment made by the fourth respondent in Perumakulam channel and the abutting cart track comprised in survey Nos.169 and 170 situated at Virupatchi,

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2 W.P.(MD)NO.8224 OF 2026

Oddanchatram Taluk, Dindigul District by considering the representation dated 06.02.2026.

For Petitioner : Mr.T.Leninkumar

For Respondents : Mr.C.Venkatesh Kumar, Special Government Pleader.

O R D E R

Heard the learned counsel appearing for the writ petitioner

and the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents 1 to 3.

Issuance of notice to the fourth respondent is dispensed

with.

The petitioner is a resident of Virupatchi Village in Oddanchatram Taluk. He states that a nilaviyal odai runs through Survey Nos.169 and 170. While Survey No.169 is a cart track, Survey No.170 is a patta land. The authorities confirm that the fourth respondent had put up a fencing and that it is obstructing the free flow of water through the said odai. It is undertaken by the 2/4

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3 W.P.(MD)NO.8224 OF 2026

respondents 1 to 3 that after issuing notice to the fourth respondent

herein, the obstruction in question will be removed. The entire exercise shall be completed within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. This writ petition stands allowed. No costs.

(G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.) & (B.PUGALENDHI, J.) 26^th March 2026

NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No PMU

To:

The District Collector / Monitoring Committee, Dindigul District, Dindigul.

The Tahsildar, Oddanchatram Taluk, Dindigul District.

The Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Nanganjiyar Basin Division, Palani, Dindigul District.

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4 W.P.(MD)NO.8224 OF 2026

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5 W.P.(MD)NO.8224 OF 2026

G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.

AND

B.PUGALENDHI, J.

PMU

W.P.(MD)No.8224 of 2026

26.03.2026

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