W.P(MD)No.20485 of 2019 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 04.03.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN W.P(MD)No.20485 of 2019 and W.M.P(MD)Nos.17119, 17120, 17122 & 21568 of 2019 Kodai smile Environment & People's Welfare Development Trust, Represented by its Trustee, S.Arockiasamy ... Petitioner vs. 1.The Commissioner of Municipal Administration, Water Supply Department, Chepak, Chennai. 2.The District Collector, Dindigul District. 3.The Thasildar, Kodaikanal, Dindigul District. 1/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P(MD)No.20485 of 2019 4.The Commissioner/Special Officer, Kodaikanal Municipality, Dindigul. 5.The Kodaikanal Boat and Rowing Club, Represented by its the Secretary, Kodaikanal. 6.The Carlton Hotel, Represented by its Manager, Lake Road, Near Kodaikanal Lake, Kodaikanal, Dindigul District. 7.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Kodaikanal, Dindigul District. 8.The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by its Principal Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Chennai. 9.The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by its Principal Secretary to Government, Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Department, Chennai. ... Respondents (R8 and R9 are suo motu impleaded vide order dated 23.09.2019 in W.P(MD)No.20485 of 2019) 2/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P(MD)No.20485 of 2019 PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondent Nos.1 to 4 and 7 to conduct public auction of boat activities in Kodaikanal lake, Dindigul District by following Tamil Nadu Tender and Transparency Act, 1998 in order to augment more revenue to the 4th respondent Municipality. For Petitioner : Mr.RM.Arun Swaminathan For Respondents : Mr.J.Ashok (R1 to R3 & R7 to R9) Additional Government Pleader : Mr.Veera Kathiravan (R4) Additional Advocate General Assisted by Mr.T.S.Mohammed Mohideen : Mr.C.Venkatesh Kumar (R5) for M/s.Isaac Chambers : Mr.A.E.Ravichandran (R6) ORDER (Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.) This Writ Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondent Nos.1 to 4 and 7 to conduct a public auction of boat activities in Kodaikanal Lake, Dindigul District, by following the Tamil Nadu 3/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P(MD)No.20485 of 2019 Transparency in Tenders Act, 1998, in order to augment more revenue to the 4th respondent Municipality. 2.One of the Trustees of Kodai Smile Environment and People's Welfare Development Trust has filed the present Writ Petition stating that more than 50% of the visitors are using the boats rented out by the fifth respondent club and that only the club is being benefited and not a single penny is being used for the welfare of the local people and visitors. Therefore, he sought a direction for conducting a public auction. 3.The learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the fourth respondent submitted that the lease originally granted to the boat club has expired and that the entire boat activities have now been taken over by the Municipality and the Fisheries Department. They have also not permitted the boating club to run the boats. Hence, nothing survives for adjudication in the Writ Petition, as the operation of boats in the lake is now vested with the Municipality and they have also framed Rules as per G.O.Ms.No.165, 4/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P(MD)No.20485 of 2019 Municipal Administration and Water Supply [MD-V(1)] Department, dated 16.11.2022. 4.In such view of the matter, we are of the view that the petitioner’s plea for such a direction is only academic and the same does not require any interference by this Court. 5.Accordingly, this Writ Petition is dismissed as infructuous. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed. [N.S.K.,J.] [M.J.R.,J.] 04.03.2026 (2/2) NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes ps To 1.The Commissioner of Municipal Administration, Water Supply Department, Chepak, Chennai. 5/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P(MD)No.20485 of 2019 2.The District Collector, Dindigul District. 3.The Thasildar, Kodaikanal, Dindigul District. 4.The Commissioner/Special Officer, Kodaikanal Municipality, Dindigul. 5.The Kodaikanal Boat and Rowing Club, Represented by its the Secretary, Kodaikanal. 6.The Carlton Hotel, Represented by its Manager, Lake Road, Near Kodaikanal Lake, Kodaikanal, Dindigul District. 7.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Kodaikanal, Dindigul District. 8.The Principal Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Chennai. 9.The Principal Secretary to Government, Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Department, Chennai. 6/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P(MD)No.20485 of 2019 N.SATHISH KUMAR , J. and M.JOTHIRAMAN , J. ps ORDER MADE IN W.P(MD)No.20485 of 2019 DATED : 04.03.2026 (2/2) 7/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis