Cont P(MD)No.881 of 2022 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 01.06.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN AND THE HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE R.POORNIMA Cont P(MD)No.881 of 2022 in W.P(MD)No.8662 of 2021 1.Pandidurai 2.S.Karmegam ... Petitioners / Petitioners Vs. 1.S.Sriram, Assistant Director (Panchayat), Rural Development, Pudukkottai District, Pudukkottai. 2.R.Ramamoorthy, Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Water Resource Organization (WRO), South Vellaru Basin, Pudukkottai District. ... Contemnors / Respondents 2 & 4 Prayer: Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of Contempts of Courts Act, 1971 to punish the Contemnors / Respondents 2 and 4 herein 1/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Cont P(MD)No.881 of 2022 for willful disobedience of the order dated 23.06.2021 passed in Writ Petition in W.P(MD)No.8662 of 2021. For Petitioners : Mr.Arul Jenifer for Mr.R.Paranjothi For Respondents : Mr.M.P.Senthil Government Counsel ORDER (Order of the Court was made by G.R.Swaminathan J.) Heard both sides. 2.The grievance of the petitioners is that the petition mentioned kanmoi has not been formally taken over by the Water Resources Department. In response thereto, the learned Government Counsel produced letter dated 12.05.2026 issued by the Secretary to Government, Water Resources Department. Paragraph 4 of the said letter reads as follows: “4. From the jurisdiction Map of Irrigation section, Aranthangi it is evident that the surplus of Kunnakurumbi tank goes to the Silatur tank followed by Rethinakottai, Thoothankudi group and Thittakudi group. All these tanks are chain of tanks and the Kunnakurumbi tanks forms a part of these chain of 2/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Cont P(MD)No.881 of 2022 tanks. Further the Kunnakurumbi tank irrigates 45.86 hectare which is more than 40 hectare ayacut. It means that the Kunnakurumbi tank is already under the control of Water Resources Department. Thus no separate orders are necessary in this regard with respect to Tamil Nadu Public Works Department Code and the G.O(Ms)No.615, Public Works Department, dated 09.05.1974.” 3.We are satisfied that the petition mentioned tank is very much vested with the Water Resources Department. If there are any encroachments in the said water body, it is the duty of the respondents to remove the same in accordance with law. 4.This Contempt Petition is closed accordingly. [G.R.S., J.] [R.P, J.] 01.06.2026 MGA To 1.The Assistant Director (Panchayat), Rural Development, Pudukkottai District, Pudukkottai. 3/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Cont P(MD)No.881 of 2022 G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J. AND R.POORNIMA , J. MGA 2.The Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Water Resource Organization (WRO), South Vellaru Basin, Pudukkottai District. Cont P(MD)No.881 of 2022 in W.P(MD)No.8662 of 2021 01.06.2026 4/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis