C.Vadivambal v. The District Collector

ORDER This Writ Petition has been filed seeking to quash the order passed by the 3rd respondent dated 06.10.2025 in Letter No.Se.Po/E & Pe / Kuni / Co., Complaint A.No.3325 of 2025.

¶2It is the case of the petitioner that he is the permanent resident of the property comprised in Survey No.342/1, measuring an extent of 1608 sq.ft situated at Thamarai Avenue, Otthakaal Mandapam Village, Coimbatore South Taluk, Coimbatore, having purchased the same under a registered Sale Deed dated 26.11.2012 vide document No.11139 of 2012 on the file of Sub Registrar Office, Kinathukadavu. The said layout was duly approved by the Deputy Director of Town and Country Planning and the Coimbatore Corporation Local Planning Authority. He has constructed a residential building thereon and is in peaceful possession of the same.

¶3Over a period of time, Thamarai Avenue and the nearby Balaji Garden have developed into thickly populated residential areas. The respondent TANGEDCO had originally laid the electric line along the existing 23-feet-wide road falling within the jurisdiction of Otthakaal Mandapam Panchayat, which is being used by the residents of the said residential areas. There are already two high-tension electric posts running behind the petitioner's residential area in Survey Nos.342/1 and 347/1, without causing any hindrance to the public.

¶4While so, the 3rd respondent issued a notice stating that the said electric line would be relocated through the 23-feet road, at the instance of complaints made by one Ramesh, Vijayasekar, and Rangaraj. Pursuant to which, the respondents are now intending to relocate the line through the 23-feet road, which would cause serious inconvenience and obstruction to pedestrians and residents of the locality. In this regard, the residents of the area submitted joint representations dated 11.04.2023 and 11.05.2023. However, without considering the said representations, the 3rd respondent passed the impugned order dated 06.10.2025, stating that the two high-tension electric lines presently running behind the residential area in Survey Nos.342/1 and 347/1, to an extent of 0.142 meters up to Premier Mills, are to be relocated to the 23-feet road running through the residential areas of Balaji Garden and Thamarai Avenue for a length of 0.188 kilometers. It is further stated that the height of the electricity poles would be 40 feet and that protective netting would be provided below the lines, as per field inspection. Aggrieved by the said order, the petitioner has approached this Court.

¶5Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record.

¶6From a perusal of the records, it is seen that the 4th respondent had issued the following communication to the petitioner: nfhak;g[j;J}h; khtl;lk; xj;jf;fhy;kz;lgk; fpuhkk; jhkiu "

mbtd;a{ gFj[papy ; jpU/unkco;. tp$anrfud ; Mfpa tpz;zg;gjhuupd ; itg;g [ g';fspg;g [ jpl;lj;jpd ; (DCW) fPH; cauGj;j kpd;ghij ,lkhw;w bra;a tpz;zg;gk; bra;ag;gl;Ls;sJ/ nkw;go ,lkhdJ fsMa;t[ bra;ag;gl;L. kjpg;gPL jahhpf;fg;gl;L mDkjp bgwg;gl;Ls;sJ/ ,e;epiyapy; nkw;fz;l ghh;itapd; go j';fspd; g[fhh; kD Ma;t[ bra;ag;gl;lJ/ nkw;go g[fhh; kDtpy; Fwpg;gpl;Ls;s ,lj;jpy ; cauGj;j kpd;ghij ,lkhw;w gzpfs; nkw;bfhs;s eltof;if vLf;Fk; gl;rj;jpy; j';fspd; g[fhh; kD bjhlh;ghf j';fsplk; fye;jhnyhrpj;J. gzpfs; nkw;bfhs;sg;gLk; vd;gij md;g[ld; bjhptpj;Jf;bfhs;sg;gLfpwJ/" Therefore, the petitioner was under the impression that the relocation of the high-tension electric line would be undertaken only after considering his objections. However, contrary to the said assurance, the 3rd respondent had passed the impugned order without adverting to the objections of the petitioner and the letter dated 17.09.2025 issued by the 4th respondent to the petitioner. Therefore, the impugned order is arbitrary, unreasonable and liable to be set aside.

¶7Consequently, the impugned order of the 3rd respondent dated

06.10.2025 is quashed and this writ petition is allowed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

29.01.2026 srn To

¶1The District Collector, Coimbatore District, Coimbatore.

¶2The Superintending Engineer, TANGEDCO, Coimbatore District, Coimbatore.

¶3The Executive Engineer (O&M), TANGEDCO, Coimbatore Power Distribution Circle, Otthakaal Mandapam, Coimbatore 641 032.

¶4The Assistant Electrical Engineer, TANGEDCO, Coimbatore Power Distribution Circle, Otthakaal Mandapam, Coimbatore – 641 032. P.T.ASHA, J., srn and W.M.P.Nos.2649 and 2651 of 2026

29.01.2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS Dated :29.01.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE Ms. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA and W.M.P.Nos.2649 and 2651 of 2026 C.Vadivambal ...Petitioner -Vs- 1. The District Collector, Coimbatore District, Coimbatore. 2. The Superintending Engineer, TANGEDCO, Coimbatore District, Coimbatore. 3. The Executive Engineer (O&M), TANGEDCO, Coimbatore Power Distribution Circle, Kuniyamuttur, Coimbatore - 641008 4. The Assistant Electrical Engineer, TANGEDCO, Coimbatore Power Distribution Circle, Otthakaal Mandapam, Coimbatore – 641 032. 5. Ramesh 6. Vijayasekaran 7. Rangaraj ...Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a writ of Certiorari to call for the records relating to the impugned order passed by the 3rd respondent dated 06.10.2025 in Letter No.Se.Po/E & Pe / Kuni / Co., Complaint A.No.3325 of 2025 and to quash the same. For Petitioner : Mr.C.Prabakaran For Respondent-1 : Mr.D.Gopal Government Advocate For Respondents 2 to4 : Mr.L.Jaivenkatesh, Standing Counsel