Sree Santhana Venugopal Krishnan Kovil v. The District Collector

ORDER (Order of the Court was delivered by G.R.Swaminathan, J.) Heard both sides.

2.The petitioner is the hereditary poosari of the temple. What is under challenge is the Form III notice issued under the provision of the Tamil Nadu Protection of Tanks and Eviction of Encroachment Act, 2007.

3.The case of the writ petitioner is that the temple is a very old one and that it deserves to be protected.

4.Ms.V.Padma Sri, Assistant Engineer, WRD, Irrigation Section I, Upper Vaippar Basin Sub Division, Rajapalayam categorically informs the Court that what is proposed to be demolished is only the compound wall which has been recently constructed and not the temple as such. Since only a compound wall that was recently erected is going to be pulled down, no exception can be taken. It has been noted at the very outset that the impugned notice is also pursuant to the earlier order of this Court made in W.P.(MD)No.14869 of 2017, dated 19.03.2018. The writ petition stands dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

(G.R.S. J.,) & (R.P. J.,)

08.06.2026 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No ias To:

1.The District Collector, Virudhunagar District, Virudhunagar.

2.The Tahsildar, Rajapalayam Taluk, Rajapalayam.

3.The Executive Engineer, Water Resource Organization, Upper vaipar River Brain,

4.The Assistant Engineer, Water Resource Organization Irrigation Section II,

G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J. and

R.POORNIMA, J. ias

08.06.2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 08.06.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN and THE HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE R.POORNIMA and W.M.P.(MD)No.6454 of 2022 Sree Santhana Venugopal Krishnan Kovil, Rep. by its Hereditary Poosari, K.Ravikumar, 117, SarvaSamuthira Agraharam, Chinnakaraikaipatti, ... Petitioner Vs. 1.The District Collector, Virudhunagar District, Virudhunagar. 2.The Tahsildar, Rajapalayam Taluk, Rajapalayam. 3.The Executive Engineer, Water Resource Organization, Upper vaipar River Brain, 4.The Assistant Engineer, Water Resource Organization Irrigation Section II, ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, forbearing the Respondents from in any way taking any coercive action of removal of encroachment of the Petitioner temple pursuant to the Notice dated Nil issued by the Respondent No.4 in From III under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Protection of Tanks and Eviction of Encroachment Act, 2007, without considering and passing orders on the Representation / Objection dated 13.04.2022 sent by the petitioner temple to rectify the erroneous classification of land records as contemplated by this Court in the case of T.S.Sentilkumar vs The Government of Tamil Nadu in Writ Petition No.20021 of 2008 vide order dated 10.02.2010. For Petitioner : Mr.Y.Prakash For Respondents : Mr.M.P.Senthil, Government Advocate.