2026 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 49321

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
M. Dhandapani, J
Velachery Sridevi – Appellant
Versus
Commissioner, Corporation of Chennai – Respondent
W.P.No.5086 of 2009

A writ petition that has remained pending for an exceptionally long period (17 years) without further prosecution may be dismissed as infructuous when no active cause of action survives for adjudication.

Headnote:The petitioner filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking an order to restrain the respondents from erecting a cell phone tower at a residential location. The court observed that the petition was originally filed in 2009 and, after a period of 17 years, the circumstances had changed such that no cause of action remained to be adjudicated. The issue before the court was whether the relief sought in a long-pending writ petition remains viable after a significant lapse of time. The court determined that as the matter had become devoid of substance due to the passage of time, it was no longer fit for adjudication, following the principle of judicial economy. The writ petition is dismissed as infructuous.