R.Masanam v. The Director

ORDER (Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.) The present Writ Petition has been instituted in the nature of a Public Interest Litigation seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing Respondents 1 and 2 to refrain from granting layout approval in favour of the 6th Respondent in respect of the agricultural lands comprised in Survey Nos. 594/3 and 594/4 situated at Srivilliputhur Revenue Village, Srivilliputhur Taluk, Virudhunagar District.

¶2The specific averment set out in the affidavit filed in support of the petition is that the 6th Respondent, a real estate promoter, has allegedly converted the said agricultural lands into house plots and has approached Respondents 1 and 2 by submitting an application seeking layout and DTCP approval. It is the contention of the petitioner that if such approval is granted, it would result in the destruction of valuable agricultural lands.

¶3Per contra, the 6th Respondent has filed a counter affidavit categorically stating that, as on date, no application seeking layout approval or change of land use has been submitted before Respondents 1 and 2. It is further contended that the petitioner is the son-in-law of one Tmt. T. Gokila, who is the sister of the predecessor-in-title of the 6th Respondent. The 6th Respondent asserts that he had purchased the subject property on 24.10.2025 and that the present petition has been filed within a short span thereafter, with vexatious allegations and with an oblique motive, and not in bona fide public interest.

¶4The learned Special Government Pleader appearing for Respondents 1 to 5 submitted that no application for layout approval has been received by Respondents 1 and 2 at any point of time.

¶5In view of the above, it is evident that the 6th Respondent has not even initiated any process for obtaining layout approval, nor is there any material to substantiate the allegation that the agricultural lands have been converted into house plots. The averments made in the petition appear to be based on mere conjecture and surmise, which clearly indicates that the petition has been filed for extraneous considerations and not in genuine public interest.

¶6In the absence of any element of public interest, this Court finds no merit in the Writ Petition. Accordingly, the Writ Petition stands dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. [N.S.K.,J.] [M.J.R.,J.]

25.03.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes am To

1.The Director, O/o.Directorate of Town and Country Planning, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Floor, C & E, Market Road, Koyambedu, Chennai-600 107.

2.Assistant Director, O/o.District Town and Country Planning, No.5, Nehru Street, N.G.O.Colony, Madurai Main Road, Sathira Reddiyapatty, Virudhunagar-626 001.

3.The District Collector, Virudhunagar District, Virudhunagar.

4.The Assistant Director, O/o.Assistant Director of Agriculture, Madavar Englave, Srivilliputhur, Virudhunagar District.

5.The Tahsildar, Srivilliputhur Taluk, Virudhunagar District. W.P(MD)No.31447eofe2025 oN.SATHISHoKUMARoo,oJo. and oM.JOTHIRAMANoo,oJo. am ORDERoMADEoIN W.P(MD)No.31447oofo2025 DATEDo:o25.03.2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 25.03.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN R.Masanam ... Petitioner vs. 1.The Director, O/o.Directorate of Town and Country Planning, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Floor, C & E, Market Road, Koyambedu, Chennai-600 107. 2.Assistant Director, O/o.District Town and Country Planning, No.5, Nehru Street, N.G.O.Colony, Madurai Main Road, Sathira Reddiyapatty, Virudhunagar-626 001. 3.The District Collector, Virudhunagar District, Virudhunagar. 4.The Assistant Director, O/o.Assistant Director of Agriculture, Madavar Englave, Srivilliputhur, Virudhunagar District. 5.The Tahsildar, Srivilliputhur Taluk, Virudhunagar District. 6.S.Jegadeeshan ... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 and 2 not grant Layout approval in favour of 6th respondent to the agricultural lands situated in S.No.594/3 and 594/4 at Srivilliputhur Revenue Village, Srivilliputhur Taluk, Virudhunagar District. For Petitioner : Mr.N.Marimuthu For R1 to R5 : Mr.S.P.Maharajan Special Government Pleader For R6 : Mr.M.Mohamed Zamil