IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 19.01.2026 CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR. MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN W.P.No.14096 of 2017 V.B.R.Menon Flat No. 4B, Brook Dale Apartments No.12, P.T.Rajan Salai, K.K.Nagar Chennai 600 078.

Petitioner(s)

Vs

1. The Principal Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu Housing and Urban Development Department Fort St. George, Secretariat Chennai 600 009.

2. The Principal Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department Fort St. George, Secretariat Chennai 600 009.

3. The Member Secretary, The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority CMDA Building, Gandhi Irwin Road Egmore, Chennai 600 008.

4. The Director Directorate of Town and Country Planning Chengalavarayan Building, 4th Floor No. 807, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002.

5. The Principal Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu Revenue Department, Fort St. George Secretariat, Chennai 600 009.

6. The Principal Secretary to Government of Tamilnadu Agricultural Department, Fort St. George Secretariat, Chennai 600 009.

7. The Principal Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department Fort St. George, Secretariat Chennai 600 009.

Respondent(s)

Prayer : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of Declaration to declare that the change of land use from Agriculture to non-Agriculture purposes in Non-Planned areas as per G.O.(Ms)No.79 dated 04.05.2017 by the Housing and Urban Development Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, without (i) obtaining the prior consents from Agricultural Department, the Grama Sabhas and District Planning Committees and (ii) making equal extents of non-Agriculture lands available for cultivation shall be impermissible and void.

For Petitioner(s): Mr.V.B.R.Menon Party-in-Person For Respondent(s): Mr.K.Karthik Jagannath Government Advocate for R1, R2, R4 to R7 Mrs.P.Veena Suresh Standing Counsel for R3 ORDER (Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice)

Petitioner, appearing in person, submits that by efflux of time, petition is rendered infructuous.

2. Petition is disposed of as having rendered infructuous.

There shall be no order as to costs.

(MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CJ) (G.ARUL MURUGAN,J)

19.01.2026 Index : Yes/No Neutral Citation : Yes/No kpl To

1. The Principal Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu Housing and Urban Development Department Fort St. George, Secretariat Chennai 600 009.

2. The Principal Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department Fort St. George, Secretariat Chennai 600 009.

3. The Member Secretary, The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority CMDA Building, Gandhi Irwin Road Egmore, Chennai 600 008.

4. The Director Directorate of Town and Country Planning Chengalavarayan Building, 4th Floor No. 807, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002.

5. The Principal Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu Revenue Department, Fort St. George Secretariat, Chennai 600 009.

6. The Principal Secretary to Government of Tamilnadu Agricultural Department, Fort St. George Secretariat, Chennai 600 009.

7. The Principal Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai 600 009.

THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND G.ARUL MURUGAN,J.

(kpl)

19.01.2026