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2026 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 32979

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
N.SATHISH KUMAR, M.JOTHIRAMAN, JJ
Gandhimathi Selvan – Appellant
Versus
The Additional Secretary (Technical), House and Urban Development Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 09. – Respondent
W.P(MD)No.5366 of 2026|W.M.P(MD)Nos.4486, 4487, 4488 & 4489 of 2026



Important Points

No further construction permitted until appeal under planning act is disposed; enforce demolition for deviations.

Subject

Civil - Writ Petition

Act Referred

Headnote

Under the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971, particularly Sections 79 and related provisions for building plan approvals and appeals, petitioners challenged a letter dated 12.02.2026 permitting reconsideration of an appeal against rejection of revised planning permission for a church reconstruction. Essential facts include approval on 28.11.2024 for 264.56 sq.m., but actual construction of 752.86 sq.m. with deviations, leading to inspections, notices, and stop-work orders. Court noted ongoing appeal before appellate authority with queries raised. Main issue framed as whether unauthorized deviations from sanctioned plans warrant quashing of the impugned letter and demolition orders. Ratio decidendi emphasizes no further construction until appeal disposal; authorities must monitor removal of materials and enforce law against violations, balancing preservation of stacked materials against regulatory compliance. Writ petition disposed of with directions; no costs.

Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Mr.M.Subbiah
For the Respondents: Mr.D.Sasi Kumar (R1 to R4), Ms.S.Vijayashanthi (R5)

Table of Content
1. interim order on consolidation petition allowed. (Para 2)
2. unauthorized church construction exceeded approved plan. (Para 3 , 4 , 5)
3. appeal pending; permit material removal. (Para 6 , 7)
4. no further construction until appeal resolved; petition disposed. (Para 8 , 9)

2.Challenging the impugned letter dated 12.02.2026 issued by the first respondent, the petitioner has filed the present Writ Petition seeking to quash the same and consequently direct the official respondents to demolish the unauthorized construction put up by the fifth respondent in deviation from the original building plan approval in ROC.No.SWP/BPA/393253/2024 dated 28.11.2024 issued by the third respondent, in respect of the property situated in Re.S.No.356/14, Kalukootam Village, Kalkulam Taluk, Kanyakumari District.

3.The petitioner challenges the unauthorized construction of a church building by the fifth respondent in Kallukootam Village, Kanyakumari District. Though approval was granted on 28.11.2024 for reconstruction measuring 264.56 sq.m., it is alleged that the fifth respondent obtained such approval by misrepresentation and proceeded to construct a substantially larger structure measuring about 752.86 sq.m., in deviation from the sanctioned plan.

4.Subsequently, pursuant to the earlier writ petition filed by the petitioner, the authorities conducted inspections and issued statutory notices, including stop-work, demolition, and lock-and-seal notices under the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971.

5.Though the fifth respondent’s application for revised planning permission was rejected, an appeal has been filed, and the committee recommended reconsideration on limited grounds, allegedly ignoring major violations. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner has challenged the impugned order dated 12.02.2026 in the present Writ Petition.

6.When the matter is taken up for hearing today, the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for respondents 1 to 4 submitted that, as against the order rejecting the regularization application, the fifth respondent has preferred an appeal before the Government under Section 79 of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971, and that the said appeal has been entertained, with certain queries having been raised by the Appellate Authority.

7.The learned counsel appearing for the fifth respondent submitted that certain construction materials have already been stacked in the church premises and, in view of the earlier order passed by this Court, the said materials may go to waste. Hence, a request was made to permit the fifth respondent to remove the materials.

8.Considering the said submission, the materials shall be removed in the presence of the third respondent/Assistant Director. The third respondent/Assistant Director shall fix a specific date for such removal, and on the said date, the fifth respondent shall remove all the materials.

9.It is made clear that, until the appeal is disposed of and the matter is regularized, the fifth respondent shall not proceed with any further construction. In the event of any further construction being carried out, the authorities concerned shall take appropriate action to remove the same in accordance with law.

10.With the above directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of.

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