COMMON ORDER

These criminal original petitions arise out of a connected series of events involving the petitioners on one side and a set of private individuals on the other, in the backdrop of long-standing disputes concerning certain waterbodies. Since the factual matrix, the grievances projected and the reliefs sought are interrelated, all the petitions are taken up together and disposed of by this common order.

2.The broad factual background may be stated at the outset. One Gopalakrishnan, who figures as the petitioner in several of these matters, had instituted proceedings before this Court as early as in the year 2012 seeking removal of encroachments from three Kanmois in A.Vallalapatti Village, namely, Murugakone Kanmoi, Puthu Kanmoi and Nayakankulam Kanmoi. The lands comprised in these waterbodies, measuring about 456.31 acres, were originally classified as Minor Inams. By order dated 06.08.2014, a Division Bench of this Court, headed by His Lordship Hon'ble Mr.Justice V.RAMASUBRAMANIAN, declared these areas to be waterbodies and directed the authorities to evict the encroachers. Consequent to this, the Settlement Officer cancelled pattas in certain survey numbers on 28.07.201