F.M. Ibrahim Kalifulla, J.

This is a public interest litigation and the petitioners seek for the issuance of a writ of Mandamus to direct the respondents not to commit any act or omission which will interfere with the landscape of Mundiyambakkam lake in Survey No.144-1 at Mundiyambakkam village, Villupuram District spread over an extent of 16.45 hectares and consequentially protect and preserve the said lake from any development or construction activities whatsoever and thereby maintain the water body by restoring status quo ante prior to G.O.Ms.No.161, Health and Family Welfare (MCA1) Department, dated 30.08.2006.

.2. The State Government issued G.O.Ms.No.161, Health and Family Welfare (MCA1) Department, dated 30.08.2006, stating that a new Medical College is to be established at Villupuram District with an intake of 100 students from the academic year 2007-2008. It is stated that the said G.O. came to be issued in furtherance of an announcement made on 22.06.2006, in the State Legislative Assembly that the Government of Tamil Nadu had planned to start a Medical College in Villupuram District.

3. At the very outset the petitioners in paragraph 5 of their affidavit fi