M/S. Spm Woven Colors v. The Chairman District Co-Ordination Committee / District Collector

Page1 of 6 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 28-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR WP Nos. 25207 of 2026 and 25215 OF 2026 And WMP Nos. 27500, 27507, 27508, 27485, 27487 and 27488 of 2026 W.P.No.25207 of 2026 M/s. SPM Woven Colors Represented by its Managing Partner Mr.M.Gobinath S.F.No.209/5-8 (Part), 273/5 (Part) and 274/1

(Part) Gangapuram Village Erode Taluk, Erode District. ..Petitioner Vs Committee / District Collector Page2 of 6 ..Respondent(s) WP No. 25215 of 2026 M/s Naveena Printing Mill Represented by its Managing Partner Mr.A.Rajkumar S.F.No.209/5, 7,8,9 and 274/1 Gangapuram Village Erode Taluk, Erode District. ..Petitioner Vs Committee / District Collector ..Respondent(s) Common Prayer : Writ Petitions are filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, praying for issuance of writ of certiorarified mandamus, calling for the records of the first respondent in proceedings bearing Letter No. DC/DEE/TNPCB/ERD/F.DCC/2026 dated 20/06/2026 and quash the same as being violative of the principles of natural justice and direct the Respondents 1 Page3 of 6 and 2 to restore the electricity supply to the petitioners unit forthwith and pass such further or other orders. For Petitioner(s): (in both WPs) Mr.K.S.Viswanathan, Senior Advocate For M/s.T.Hemalatha For Respondent(s): (in both WPs) Mr.C.Prabakaran, Govt. Counsel – R1 Mr.I.Syed Sibghatulla, Standing Counsel –R2 Mr.A.Abdul Hameed, Senior Advocate For Mr.Gunasekar, Standing Counsel – R3 COMMON ORDER The petitioner has challenged the communications dated 20.06.2026 issued by the first respondent, whereby the first respondent directed the second respondent to disconnect the electricity supply to the petitioner's industrial unit.

¶2The impugned communications were issued based on a WhatsApp video complaint allegedly showing that the petitioner was discharging untreated effluents outside the factory premises. Based on the complaint, the third respondent claims to have conducted an inspection and concluded that the petitioner was discharging untreated effluents outside the factory. Page4 of 6

¶3The petitioner contends that the inspection was not conducted in his presence and that he was not asked to sign the inspection report.

¶4Pursuant to the interim order passed by this Court, the second respondent restored the electricity supply to the petitioner's unit.

¶5The third respondent has filed a counter affidavit stating that the officials of the District Environmental Engineer, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Erode, conducted a fresh inspection on 14.07.2026. During the inspection, the following was found:

(i) The factory was in operation and carrying out production;

(ii) All the Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) components were functioning;

(iii) The four-stage Reverse Osmosis (RO) system was in operation; and

(iv) The Multiple Effect Evaporator (MEE) and Agitated Thin Film Dryer

(ATFD) were also functioning.

¶6The inspection report indicates that the petitioner was operating the required pollution control systems and does not record any discharge of untreated effluents outside the factory premises. In view of the subsequent inspection report, the impugned communications dated 20.06.2026 cannot be sustained and are liable to be set aside. Page5 of 6

¶7Accordingly, the impugned communications dated 20.06.2026 are set aside. The writ petitions are allowed. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. There shall be no order as to costs.

¶8It is, however, open to the respondent authorities to initiate appropriate action against the petitioner's factory, if any violation of the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 is noticed in future, after following due process of law. 28-07-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order ak To Committee / District Collector Page6 of 6 HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR J. ak WP Nos. 25207 of 2026 and 25215 OF 2026 And WMP Nos. 27500, 27507, 27508, 27485, 27487 and 27488 of 2026 28-07-2026