BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 08.01.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI W.P(MD)No.36592 of 2025 V.Pandiaraj ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The District Collector / Monitoring Committee, Theni, Theni District.

2.The District Revenue Officer, Theni, Theni District.

3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Uthamapalayam, Theni District.

4.The Tahsildar, Uthamapalayam, Theni District.

5.Rajendran

6.Ramakrishnamoorthy

7.Annathai 8.Perumal

9.Gopi @ Subburaj ... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the Respondents 1 to 4 to remove the encroachment made by the Respondents 5 to 9 on the Odai in Survey Nos.306 and 307, Seeppalakottai Village, Uthamapalayam Taluk, Theni District.

For Petitioner :Mr.R.Velmurugan For Respondents :Mr.C.Venkatesh Kumar Special Government Pleader for R1 to R4

ORDER

Heard the learned counsel for the writ petitioner and the learned Special Government Pleader for R1 to R4. Issuance of notice to the private respondents is dispensed with.

2. The petitioner alleges that there are encroachments in the petition mentioned survey numbers. The learned Special Government Pleader confirms that the petition mentioned survey numbers have been classified as water bodies. It is further stated that action has already been taken under the Land Encroachment Act for removing the encroachment. It is further stated that the encroachers only sought time to remove the encroachment on their own.

3. Let the authorities ensure that all the encroachment are cleared within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. If the encroachers on their own fail to remove the encroachment, the fourth respondent will take coercive steps to have the encroachment removed.

4. The Writ Petition is allowed on these terms. No costs.

[G.R.S., J.] [B.P., J.]

08.01.2026 NCC : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No Index : Yes / No rmi To

1.The District Collector / Monitoring Committee, Theni, Theni District.

2.The District Revenue Officer, Theni, Theni District.

3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Uthamapalayam, Theni District.

4.The Tahsildar, Uthamapalayam, Theni District.

G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J and B.PUGALENDHI, J.

rmi W.P(MD)No.36592 of 2025

08.01.2026