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2026 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 25689
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
S. M. SUBRAMANIAM, K. SURENDER, JJ
A.S.Paramaraju – Appellant
Versus
The Principal Secreary Government Of Tamil Nadu, Department Of Environment And Forest – Respondent
W.P. No. 45978 of 2025
Important Points
Subject
Environmental Law - Forest Regulation
Act Referred
Headnote
(B) Writ Jurisdiction - The court has the authority to direct government officials to enforce statutory provisions and maintain public lands. (Para 2)
Facts of the case:
The petitioner sought a writ to remove encroachments on specific forest lands and disconnect electricity to unauthorized structures. The Forest Range Officer reported that the encroachments had been removed and the land secured.
Findings of Court:
The court directed the respondents to protect the notified forest area and maintain compliance under the Forest Act.
Issues: Whether encroachments on notified forest lands had been addressed appropriately by the authorities.
Ratio Decidendi: The court upheld the statutory framework established by the Tamil Nadu Forest Act and mandated protection measures against encroachments.
Result: Writ Petition stands disposed of with specific directions to the respondents.
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Mr.G.Ponnumani for M/s. Sunil Kumar R
For the Respondents: Dr.T.Seenivasan Special Government Pleader for R1 to R5
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. encroachment on forest land established (Para 1) |
| 2. respondents directed to prevent further encroachments (Para 2) |
| 3. writ petition disposed; no costs ordered (Para 3) |
PRAYER: The Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India directing respondents 1 to 5 to remove all encroachments from the forest lands in Survey Nos 25/ 1, to 25 /10, 26 /4 to 26 /8, and 27/1 and 27/3 of Venugopalapuram Village, Thiruttani Taluk, Thiruvallur District and Direct the 6th respondent to disconnect the illegally obtained electricity service connection provided to the unauthorised structure pursuant to the representation dated 02.05.2025.
For Petitioner(s): Mr.G.Ponnumani for M/s. Sunil Kumar R For Respondent(s): Dr.T.Seenivasan Special Government Pleader for R1 to R5 R6 – No appearance R7 – Not ready in notice
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.)
With reference to the relief sought for in the present Writ Petition, Forest Range Officer, Tiruttani Range, in his written instructions, addressed to the Special Government Pleader (Forest Cases), dated 18.03.2026 has stated that the subject land detailed in the Writ Petition is forest land declared under Section 26 of the Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1882, and that the same has been notified in the Madras Chengalpattu District Gazette, Vol.CXII, Kancheepuram dated 01.05.1969. With the assistance of the Revenue Tahsildar, Tiruttani, a survey was conducted and the authorities found that the forest land had been encroached upon. The encroachers have already been evicted from the said land and the entire forest area has been taken into possession by the Forest Authorities.
2. Thus, the respondents are directed to protect the notified forest area from further encroachments and to maintain the same in accordance with the provisions of the Forest Act and the Rules framed thereunder.
3. With the above directions, this Writ Petition stands disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.
