A.Shanthi v. The State of Tamil Nadu

Page1 of 10 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 22-06-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE DR JUSTICE G. JAYACHANDRAN AND THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE N. MALA Writ Petition Nos. 18777 & 18127 of 2026 S.Rohit ..Petitioner Vs

¶1The Commissioner Greater Chennai Corporation Ripon Building, Chennai -03.

¶2The Zonal Officer Zone VIII, Greater Chennai Corporation, No.368, Pulla Avenue, Shenoy Nagar, Chennai-600 030.

¶3The Engineer in Chief Office of Engineer-in-Chief, Water Resources Department, P.W.D. Estate, Chepauk, Chennai-600 005.

¶4The Chief Executive Engineer Office of Engineer-in-chief, Water Resources Department, P.W.D. Estate, Chepauk,Chennai-600 005.

¶5The Director General (H) Highways Department, Integrated an Chief Engineers Office, HRS Campus, No.76, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai-600025.

¶6The Assistant Engineer Highway Division, Highways Department, Page2 of 10 Integrated and Chief Engineers Office, HRS Campus, No.76, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai-600025.

¶7The District Collector Office of the Collectorate, Kamaraj Salai, Chennai-600 001.

¶8The Tahsildar Aminjikarai Taluk, Aminjikarai Taluk, Chennai-600029.

¶9The Deputy Commissioner of Police 6th Avenue, P Block, Anna Nagar,Chennai-600 040.

10.A.Shanthi

11.P.Mangalam ..Respondents WP No. 18127 of 2026

¶1A.Shanthi

¶2P.Mangalam ..Petitioners Vs

¶1The State of Tamil Nadu Rep by its Chairman-District Collector, O/o.The Collectorate Singaravelar Maligai, Chennai-600 001.

¶2The District Monitoring Committee Rep by its Convenor - District Revenue Office, O/o.The Collectorate, Singaravelar Maligai, Chennai-01. Page3 of 10

¶3The Revenue Divisional Officer Chennai central M.Singaravelar Maligai, 32, Rajaji Road,Chennai-01.

¶4The Tahsildar Aminjikarai Taluk, Aminjikarai, Chennai-29.

¶5S.Rohit ..Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the Respondent 1to 9 to enforce the order passed by the District Monitoring Committee i.e., Revenue Divisional Office, Central Chennai, Vide its Proceedings Na.Ka.No. A5/ 4152/ 2024 dated 28.08.2025 and whereby remove the illegal encroachment comprised in Town Survey Nos.4, 10, 13 and 14, Block No.17, Ward No.I, Periyakoodal Town, Aminjikari Taluk, Chennai District . WP No. 18127 of 2026 Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 1st Respondent to consider the representation dated 02.01.2026 and to conduct a fair enquiry relating to property situated at No.2-A, Kamaraj Street, Shenoy Nagar, Chennai-600 030, comprised in S.No. 22/1B measuring an extent of 1462 Sq.ft within the sub Registration District of Anna Nagar and within the registration District of Central Chennai. For Petitioner: Mr.S.Charuhasan For Respondents: Ms.K.Aswinidevi Standing Counsel For R1 and R2 Page4 of 10 Mr.B.Sivakollapan Government Advocate For R3 and R4 Mr.D.Manimaran for R10 and R11 W.P.No.18127 of 2026 For Petitioner Mr.D.Manimaran For Respondents Mr.B.Sivakollapan Government Advocate For R1 to R4 Mr.S.Charuhasan for R5 COMMON ORDER (Order of the Court was made by Dr.G.Jayachandran J.) A larger extent of land abutting Poonamallee High Road in Aminjikarai, belonging to Government, has been infested by encroachers. Two of them approached this Court.

¶2One S.Rohit filed a Writ of Mandamus alleging that respondents 10 and 11, namely A.Shanthi and P.Mangalam, have illegally encroached upon the land in Survey Nos.4, 10, 13 and 14, Block No.17, Ward No.I, Periyakoodal Town, Aminjikari Taluk, Chennai District.

¶3At the same time, A.Shanthi and P.Mangalam have also filed a writ petition in W.P.No.18127 of 2026 alleging that S.Rohit has encroached upon the Government land to an extent of 1462 Sq.ft., in Survey No.22/1B. Page5 of 10

¶4Coincidentally, both matters have come up on the same day. This Court, on perusing the affidavits of the respective writ petitioners and considering the nature of the reliefs sought, passed the following order:- "The petitioners in these two writ petitions, due to their internal fight, had disclosed and brought to light their encroachment of the Government land, by each other. Pursuant to a direction of this Court in W.P.Nos.11923 of 2024 and 19335 of 2025, the illegal encroachment of one A.Shanthi, who is the writ petitioner in W.P.No.18127 of 2026, was directed to be removed. Being aggrieved, A.Shanthi has preferred W.P.No.18127 of 2026 with the following prayer and posted for further hearing.: "Writ of Mandamus, directing the first respondent to consider the representation dated 02.01.2026 and to conduct a fair enquiry relating to property situated at No.2-A, Kamaraj Street, Shenoy Nagar, Chennai-600 030, comprised in S.No.22/1B measuring an extent of 1462 sq.ft. within the Sub registration District of Anna Nagar and within the registration District of Central Chennai." At the same time, S.Rohit, aggrieved by the inaction of the respondents, has filed W.P.No18777 of 2026 with the following prayer : "Writ of Mandamus, directing the Respondents 1-9 to enforce the order passed by the District Monitoring Committee i.e., Revenue Divisional Office, Central Chennai, vide its Proceedings Na.Ka.No. A5/ 4152/ 2024 dated 28.08.2025 and whereby removing the illegal encroachment comprised in Town Survey No.4, 10, 13 and Page6 of 10 14, Block No.17, Ward No.I, Periyakoodal Town,Aminjikari Taluk, Chennai District."

¶2From the affidavit of both the writ petitioners, it is clear that both are allegedly in possession of Government land, illegally encroached. The official respondents are, therefore, directed to identify the encroached land by these two writ petitioners, remove the same and report before this Court by 22.06.2026."

¶5When the matter was taken up for consideration, the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the Corporation brought to the notice of this Court that the first writ petitioner, A.Shanthi (in W.P.No.18127 of 2026 and one of the respondents in W.P.No.18777 of 2026) had already filed a Civil Suit in C.S.No.116 of 2020 before the Madras High Court. In the said suit, she sought declaration that she has prescribed title by adverse possession in respect of property comprised in New Town Survey No.13, Block No.17 (formerly Town Survey No.2, Block No.23), Amainthakarai Village. The suit in C.S.No.116 of 2020 was dismissed after trial on 07.10.2025. Aggrieved by the dismissal, Shanthi preferred an Original Side Appeal in O.S.A.No.17 of 2026 and the same is pending.

¶6The learned Government Advocate appearing for the revenue officials submitted that all four survey numbers belong to the Government and the Corporation has identified the land as a road that has been encroached upon Page7 of 10 by several persons, including the writ petitioners. Out of four survey numbers, T.S.No.4 belongs to Water Resources Department (WRD), T.S.Nos.10 and 13 belong to the Corporation and T.S.No.14 is a public road, all of which have been encroached. He further submitted that in view of the multiple litigations, the process of evicting the encroachers is being delayed.

¶7Recording the said submissions and facts, we dispose of these writ petitions with direction to the concerned authorities to identify the encroached portions and remove the same, after affording an opportunity of hearing to the encroachers in accordance with law, within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. If any eviction process has already commenced, the same shall be taken to its logical end. No costs. (Dr.G.J.,J.) (N.M.,J.) 22-06-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order rpl To

1.The Commissioner Greater Chennai Corporation Ripon Building, Chennai -03.

2.The Zonal Officer Zone VIII, Greater Chennai Corporation, No.368, Pulla Avenue, Shenoy Nagar, Chennai-600 030. Page8 of 10

3.The Engineer in Chief Office of Engineer-in-Chief, Water Resources Department, P.W.D. Estate, Chepauk, Chennai-600 005.

4.The Chief Executive Engineer Office of Engineer-in-chief, Water Resources Department, P.W.D. Estate, Chepauk,Chennai-600 005.

5.The Director General (H) Highways Department, Integrated an Chief Engineers Office, HRS Campus, No.76, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai-600025.

6.The Assistant Engineer Highway Division, Highways Department, Integrated and Chief Engineers Office, HRS Campus, No.76, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai-600025.

7.The District Collector Office of the Collectorate, Kamaraj Salai, Chennai-600 001.

8.The Tahsildar Aminjikarai Taluk, Aminjikarai Taluk, Chennai-600029.

9.The Deputy Commissioner of Police 6th Avenue, P Block, Anna Nagar,Chennai-600 040.

10.The Chairman-District Collector, State of Tamil Nadu, O/o.The Collectorate Singaravelar Maligai, Chennai-600 001. Page9 of 10

11.The District Monitoring Committee Rep by its Convenor - District Revenue Office, O/o.The Collectorate, Singaravelar Maligai, Chennai-01.

12.The Revenue Divisional Officer Chennai central M.Singaravelar Maligai, 32, Rajaji Road,Chennai-01. WPoNo.o18777oofo2026 DR.G.JAYACHANDRANoJ. and N.MALAoJ. rpl WritoPetitionoNos.o18777o&o18127oofo2026 22-06-2026 Page10oofo10