R.Rajasekar v. The Secretary to Government

ORDER (Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) Through this public interest litigation, challenge is made to an internal communication made by the fifth respondent to the District Collector proposing acquisition of lands for development of industrial area.

¶2Learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the lands which have been proposed by the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu ('SIPCOT', for short) for being acquired, could not be acquired under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, on the ground that it is impermissible. Learned Senior counsel further submitted that suitability of lands for acquisition has to be decided by the Government and not by the said department.

¶3What we find from the records is that SIPCOT has identified certain lands as suitable for industrial development and forwarded a proposal for consideration of the District Collector. That means, the proposal has not been accepted so far. However, the authority dealing with matters of acquisition is presumed to act in accordance with law. We do not find any basis to conclude that the District Collector will proceed to accept the proposal sent by SIPCOT and initiate acquisition proceedings contrary to the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Land for Industrial Purposes Act, 1997. The proposal may either be accepted or rejected or partly accepted or partly rejected. It is only when any notification is issued, it may be open for anyone aggrieved to take remedy under the law.

¶4The petition stands closed. There will be no order as to costs. Consequently, WMP Nos.1269, 1269 of 2026 are closed. (MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CJ.) (G.ARUL MURUGAN, J.)

30.01.2026 Index : Yes/No : Yes/No tar To

1.The Secretary to Government Industries Investment Promotion and Commerce department Secretariat, Chennai-600 009

2.The Commissioner of Land Administration Land Administration Department Chepauk, Chennai-600 005.

3.The District Collector Collectorate, Villupuram District Villupuram.

4.The Special Deputy Collector (LA) SIPCOT, Tindivanam Land Acquisition Scheme SIPCOT office, Pelakuppam Tindivanam, Villupuram District.

5.The Project Officer SIPCOT Project office Tindivanam, Villupuram District.

6.The General Manager Administration & Land Acquisition State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu 19-A, Rukmani Lakshmipathy Road Egmore Chennai 600008 THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND G.ARUL MURUGAN

, J.

(tar)

30.01.2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 30.01.2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN R.Rajasekar : Petitioner Vs 1.The Secretary to Government Industries Investment Promotion and Commerce department Secretariat, Chennai-600 009 2.The Commissioner of Land Administration Land Administration Department Chepauk, Chennai-600 005. 3.The District Collector Collectorate, Villupuram District Villupuram. 4.The Special Deputy Collector (LA) SIPCOT, Tindivanam Land Acquisition Scheme SIPCOT office, Pelakuppam Tindivanam, Villupuram District. 5.The Project Officer SIPCOT Project office Tindivanam, Villupuram District. 6.The General Manager Administration & Land Acquisition State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu 19-A, Rukmani Lakshmipathy Road Egmore Chennai 600008 : Respondents Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for entire records pertaining to Proposal of the 4th and 5th respondents forwarded to 3rd respondent dated 25.10.2025 in Lr.No.LA/Omanthur/2025 quash the same as illegal and further direct the respondents not to acquire the lands mentioned in the proposal of the 4th and 5th respondents forwarded to 3rd respondent based upon the petitioner representation dated 30.12.2025. For Petitioner : Mr.V.Raghavachari, Senior Counsel, for Mr.R.Ramesh For Respondents : Mr.E.Vijay Anand, Additional Government Pleader, for respondents 1 to 4 Mr.K.Palaniappan, Standing Counsel, for respondent no.5