V.R.Ranganathan v. The District Collector

ORDER [made by M. SUNDAR, J.] This order will now dispose of the captioned 'writ petition' ['WP' for the sake of brevity].

¶2Mr. I. Abrar Mohamed Abdullah, learned counsel on record for writ petitioner who is before us expresses regret for having missed the matter yesterday (23.06.2025).

¶3Adverting to a representation dated 20.06.2022 from the writ petitioner, learned counsel for writ petitioner submitted that there is alleged encroachment in 'pathway in Government poramboke in S.F.No.626/5 in Andipalayam Village, Kinathukadavu Taluk' [hereinafter 'said land' for the sake of convenience and clarity] by RR 8 to 15. To be noted, RR 8 to 15 are private respondents.

¶4Considering the facts and circumstances of the case in juxtaposition with G.O.(Ms)No.64, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Land Disposal Wing, dated 08.02.2022 {hereinafter 'said GO' for the sake of convenience} which puts in place a removal of Page Nos.3/8 encroachment procedure inter alia giving opportunity to alleged encroachers, we are of the view that the captioned WP can be finally disposed of.

¶5In the light of what has been alluded to supra and considering the limited scope of the captioned WP, with the consent of both sides, captioned WP was taken up.

¶6It was submitted by learned State counsel that said GO has been put in place, wherein and whereby Divisional Monitoring Committee, District Monitoring Committee and State Steering Committee have been constituted inter alia for a single point reporting / monitoring system qua Government lands.

¶7In the light of the narrative thus far, we deem it appropriate to refer the matter to the Divisional Monitoring Committee headed by R2 qua said GO.

¶8This Court directs the jurisdictional Divisional Monitoring Committee to examine if there is encroachment qua said land. Page Nos.4/8

¶9The Divisional Monitoring Committee qua said GO shall (if it comes to the conclusion that there is encroachment), report the encroachment to appropriate authorities concerned for further action (for removal of encroachment). To be noted, all the rights and contentions of alleged encroachers are preserved for being raised before the Committee concerned which shall consider the same on their own merits and in accordance with law untrammelled by this proceedings in this Court. The entire exercise shall be completed within a period of 14 weeks from today i.e., by 30.09.2025.

¶10It is open to the writ petitioner and or anyone concerned with this matter to come to this Court on the same issue even with a similar / same prayer if there is any change of circumstances.

¶11We make it clear that we have not expressed any view or opinion as to whether there is encroachment or not qua said land as it turns on facts and it is for the Divisional Monitoring Committee to take a call on this aspect of the matter. We also make it clear that this exercise will not apply to patta land and it will apply only to public land, if there is any encroachment in public land. Page Nos.5/8

¶12Captioned WP is disposed of with the aforementioned observations and directives in the aforesaid manner. Consequently, captioned writ miscellaneous petitions stand closed. There shall be no order as to costs. (M.S., J.) (H.C., J.)

24.06.2025 cad Index: N.C. : Page Nos.6/8 To

¶1The District Collector O/o.The District Collector Coimbatore

¶2The Sub Collector O/o.The Sub Collector Pollachi

¶3The Tahsildar O/o.The Tahsildar Kinathukadavu Kovai Pollachi Main Road Pollachi 642 109

¶4The Block Development Officer O/o.The Block Development Officer Vadachittur Block

¶5The Revenue Inspector Vadachittur Coimbatore

¶6The Village Administrative Officer Vadachittur, Kinathukadavu Taluk Coimbatore

¶7The Inspector of Police Negamam Police Station Negamam Page Nos.7/8

M.SUNDAR, J. and

HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J. cad

24.06.2025 Page Nos.8/8

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 24.06.2025 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.SUNDAR and THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR W.P.No.19537 of 2022 and W.M.P. Nos.18816 & 18817 of 2022 V.R. Ranganathan Petitioner vs. 1. The District Collector O/o.The District Collector Coimbatore 2. The Sub Collector O/o.The Sub Collector Pollachi 3. The Tahsildar O/o.The Tahsildar Kinathukadavu Kovai Pollachi Main Road Pollachi 642 109 4. The Block Development Officer O/o.The Block Development Officer Vadachittur Block 5. The Revenue Inspector Vadachittur, Coimbatore 6. The Village Administrative Officer Vadachittur, Kinathukadavu Taluk Coimbatore Page Nos.1/8 7. The Inspector of Police Negamam Police Station Negamam 8. Pateeswaran 9. Kanagaraj 10. Selvaraj 11. Ganesan 12. Thirugnanasambandham 13. Marimuthu 14. Ravi 15. Sundaram Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of mandamus directing the respondents No.1 to 3 to act upon the petitioner's representation dated 20.06.2022 and accordingly, remove the encroachment in the Government Poramboke in common pathway situated in S.F.No.626/5 in Andipalayam Village, Kinathukadavu Taluk at the instance of respondents No.8 to 15 and accordingly, restore the pathway to the petitioner's land to its original status. For petitioner Mr. I. Abrar Mohamed Abdullah For RR 1 to 6 Mr. T.K. Saravanan Addl. Govt. Pleader For R7 Mr. S. Santhosh Govt. Advocate (Crl. Side) For RR 8 to 15 Mr. R. Nandhakumar ------- Page Nos.2/8