Revisional authority must decide stay applications under S.80-A within 3 weeks; no coercive action during interim period.

Heard.

2. This writ petition has been filed by the petitioners under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking direction to the first respondent to dispose of the appeal/revision petition filed under Section 80-A of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 against the notice dated 2.3.2026 issued by respondent Nos.3 and 4.

3. This Court, vide order dated 18.08.2025 in W.P.No.31046 of

2025 (D.Ezhil Maran vs. The Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Dept), had dealt with similar prayer and disposed of the said writ petition with the following observations and directions:

“3. This Court is flooded with similar cases where revision petitions are being filed along with stay applications and due to delay in considering the prayer for stay, proceedings are being drawn for lock and seal of the premises.

4. Where a revision petition is filed along with an application for stay, the revisional authority must decide the application for stay within a period of three weeks from the date of filing of the stay application. Further, we are of the view that, at least for three weeks, till the stay application is decided one way or the other, coercive steps should not be adopted by the local body even without waiting for a decision on the stay application.

5. We direct the revisional authority to decide the application for stay within a period of three weeks from today. The petitioner shall not seek any adjournment on the date fixed by the revisional authority for consideration of the stay application. A copy of this order shall be placed by the petitioner before the revisional authority within five days. Coercive action shall not be taken for a period of three weeks by the Corporation. If the order passed by us today is not placed before the revisional authority within a period of five days from today, the protective umbrella given shall lose its efficacy.”

4. This writ petition stands disposed of on similar lines.

5. We direct the revisional authority to decide the application for stay, if any, within a period of three weeks from today. The petitioners shall not seek any adjournment on the date fixed by the revisional authority for consideration of the stay application. A copy of this order shall be placed by the petitioners before the revisional authority within five days. Coercive action shall not be taken for a period of three weeks by the Corporation. If the order passed by us today is not placed before the revisional authority within a period of five days from today, the protective umbrella given shall lose its efficacy.