Court upheld the dismissal of arbitrary auction proceedings and mandated timely action for environmental management.

7.V.V.S.S.Suresh ... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records relating to the impugned proceedings of the fifth respondent in Na.Ka.No.A6/1382/2023 dated 06.01.2026 and to quash the same as illegal, arbitrary and contrary to the Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Procedure for Conducting Public Auction of Leases and Sales in the Panchayats) Rules, 2001 and consequently, to direct the respondents 1 to 6 to conduct a fresh public auction in a fair, transparent and competitive manner after proper enumeration, valuation, publication and approval, for cutting and removal of Seemai Karuvelam trees in Mallakkottai and Senkulam water bodies, Periyakulam Village Panchayat, Tiruchuli Taluk, Virudhunagar District and to direct the respondents 1 to 4 to conduct an enquiry into the manner in which the impugned auction was conducted and confirmed and to fix responsibility for the loss caused to public revenue, and take appropriate action including disciplinary proceedings, surcharge, recovery against the erring officials, within a time frame fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.S.Balamurugan For R1 to R5 : Mr.P.T.Thiraviam Government Advocate For R6 : No Appearance For R7 : Mr.A.Balaji

ORDER

The Writ Petition has been filed challenging the impugned proceedings of the fifth respondent in Na.Ka.No.A6/1382/2023, dated 06.01.2026, and to quash the same as illegal, arbitrary and contrary to the Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Procedure for Conducting Public Auction of Leases and Sales in the Panchayats) Rules, 2001. Consequently, the petitioner seeks a direction to the respondents 1 to 6 to conduct a fresh public auction in a fair, transparent and competitive manner, after proper enumeration, valuation, publication and approval, for cutting and removal of Seemai Karuvelam trees in Mallakkottai and Senkulam water bodies in Periyakulam Village Panchayat, Tiruchuli Taluk, Virudhunagar District. The petitioner has also sought a direction to the respondents 1 to 4 to conduct an enquiry into the manner in which the impugned auction was conducted and confirmed, to fix responsibility for the loss caused to public revenue, and to take appropriate action, including disciplinary proceedings, surcharge and recovery, against the erring officials.

2. Upon hearing the learned counsel for the petitioner and upon perusing the materials available on record, the contention of the petitioner is that the wood would fetch a higher amount, whereas the tender has been given for a lesser amount.

3. The learned Government Advocate would submit that the work order has already been issued and the work is about to commence.

4. Considering the fact that the species involved is an invasive species, and the State is required to complete the work at the earliest, and the successful bidder is willing to carry out the work in a swift manner, a detailed enquiry as to the amount that the wood would fetch need not be undertaken in the present writ petition.

5. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the successful bidder to forthwith undertake the work and properly uproot the trees. Thereafter, the authorities shall ensure that the area is maintained free from Prosopis Juliflora. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.