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

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

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Third respondent (Tahsildar, Thuraiyur Taluk) directed to issue notice to the private respondents and other encroachers, if any, conduct survey and, if encroachments are noticed, remove them adhering to due process of law; entire exercise to be completed within four months from receipt of a copy of the order; writ petition disposed of with no costs.

Issue for consideration

Whether a Writ of Mandamus should issue directing respondents 2 and 3 (the Revenue Divisional Officer, Musiri Division, and the Tahsildar, Thuraiyur Taluk) to remove the encroachment made by respondents 4 to 11 in the channel running through S.No.3/5, S.No.17/2, S.No.20/1, S.No.21/1, Sikkathambur South Village, Thuraiyur Taluk, Tiruchirappalli District, pursuant to the petitioner's representations dated 02.02.2026 and 21.02.2026.

Court's answer

Issuance of notice to the private respondents 4 to 11 is dispensed with.

Ratio / Principle

The third respondent (Tahsildar) is directed to issue notice to the private respondents and other encroachers, if any, conduct a survey and, if encroachments are noticed, remove them while adhering to due process of law.

Key takeaways

The entire exercise (notice, survey and removal, if encroachments are found) is to be completed within a period of four months from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.ratio¶43

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

MADRAS HIGH COURT (Madurai Bench) — W.P.(MD)No.9320 of 2026 — C. Saroja v. (1) District Collector, Tiruchirappalli; (2) Revenue Divisional Officer, Musiri Division, Tiruchirappalli; (3) Tahsildar, Thuraiyur Taluk, Tiruchirappalli; (4–11) Andi, Ramaraj, Ramasamy, Karuppazhagi, Ponnusamy, Duraisamy, Karuppanan, Subban — Order dated 09.04.2026 — Coram: G.R. Swaminathan & B. Pugalendhi, JJ. — Writ of Mandamus under Article 226 of the Constitution of India — Petitioner, a resident of Sikkathambur Village, alleged encroachments by respondents 4 to 11 in a channel running through S.No.3/5, S.No.17/2, S.No.20/1, S.No.21/1, Sikkathambur South Village, Thuraiyur Taluk, Tiruchirappalli District, having made representations dated 02.02.2026 and 21.02.2026 — Learned Additional Government Pleader conceded that the petition-mentioned survey numbers are classified as channel and that the channel vests with the Revenue Department — Issuance of notice to respondents 4 to 11 dispensed with — Third respondent (Tahsildar) directed to issue notice to the private respondents and other encroachers, if any, conduct survey and, if encroachments are noticed, remove them adhering to due process of law — Entire exercise to be completed within four months from receipt of a copy of the order — Writ petition stands disposed of accordingly; no costs.

1 W.P.(MD)NO.9320 OF 2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED : 09.04.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN

AND

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI

W.P.(MD)No.9320 of 2026

C.Saroja

... Petitioner

Vs.

The District Collector, Tiruchirappalli.

The Revenue Divisional Officer, Musiri Division, Tiruchirappalli.

The Tahsildar,

Thuraiyur Taluk, Tiruchirappalli.

Andi 5. Ramaraj

Ramasamy

Karuppazhagi

Ponnusamy

Duraisamy

10.Karuppanan

11.Subban

... Respondents

Prayer: Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, issuing a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 2 and 3 to remove the encroachment made by the 1/5

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

2 W.P.(MD)NO.9320 OF 2026

respondents 4 to 11 in channel running through S.No.3/5, S.No.17/2, S.No.20/1, S.No.21/1, Sikkathambur South Village, Thuraiyur Taluk, Tiruchirappalli District based on the petitioner's representation dated 02.02.2026 and 21.02.2026.

For Petitioner : Mr.K.K.Udayakumar

For Respondents : Mr.G.V.Vairam Santhosh, Additional Government Pleader for R-1 to R-3.

O R D E R

Heard the learned counsel appearing for the writ petitioner

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

Issuance of notice to respondents 4 to 11 is dispensed with.

The writ petitioner is a resident of Sikkathambur Village. He

alleges that in the petition mentioned channel, there are encroachments.

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

3 W.P.(MD)NO.9320 OF 2026

The learned Additional Government Pleader concedes that

the petition mentioned survey numbers have been classified as

channel. The channel vest with the Revenue Department.

The third respondent is directed to issue notice to the private respondents and other encroachers if any, conduct survey and if encroachments are noticed, then by adhering to due process of law, the encroachments shall be removed. The entire exercise will be completed within a period of four months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. This writ petition stands disposed of accordingly. No costs.

(G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.) & (B.PUGALENDHI, J.) 09.04.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No

PMU

3/5

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

4 W.P.(MD)NO.9320 OF 2026

To:

The District Collector, Tiruchirappalli.

The Revenue Divisional Officer, Musiri Division, Tiruchirappalli.

The Tahsildar, Thuraiyur Taluk, Tiruchirappalli.

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

5 W.P.(MD)NO.9320 OF 2026

G.R.SWAMINATHAN,J.

AND

B.PUGALENDHI, J.

PMU

W.P.(MD)No.9320 of 2026

09.04.2026

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