W.P.(MD) No.14752 of 2025 etc. batch BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 12.06.2025 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C. SARAVANAN W.P.(MD) Nos. 14752, 14766 to 14768, 14780, 14787 to 14805 & 14814 of 2025 and W.M.P.(MD) Nos.11010, 11012, 11035 to 11038, 11053, 11112, 11064, 11065, 11069, 11071, 11076, 11077, 11066, 11067, 11075, 11081, 11088, 11091, 11095, 11097, 11100, 11102, 11104, 11105, 11085, 11087, 11072, 11074, 11090, 11092, 11098, 11099, 11068, 11070, 11082, 11084, 11093, 11094, 11101, 11103, 11108, 11109, 11078 & 11083 of 2025 W.P.(MD) Nos.14752 & 14766 of 2025 M.Guruvaiah ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14752 of 2025 K.Vinothraj ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14766 of 2025 Vs. 1.The Commissioner, Srivilliputhur Municipality, Srivilliputhur – 626 125, Virudhungar District. 2.The Assistant Engineer (O & M), Market and Bazaar Division, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Ltd., _______________ Page No. 1 of 16 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.14752 of 2025 etc. batch Railway Feeder Road, Srivilliputhur Town, Virudhunagar District. 3.The Executive Engineer (O & M), Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Ltd, Kottaippatti Road, Srivilliputhur Town, Virudhunagar District. ... Respondents in both W.Ps. COMMON PRAYER : Writ Petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records, relating to the impugned notice issued by the first respondent in his proceedings in Na.Ka.No.413/2025/A1, dated 22.05.2025 and quashing the same and consequently forbearing the respondents from interfering with the petitioner's peaceful possession and enjoyment of Shop Nos.5 & 7 respectively, Aringnar Anna Bus Stand, Srivilliputhur, Virudhunagar District by considering their representations dated 21.05.2025 and 21.05.2025. For Petitioner in both W.Ps. : Mr.P.Kannan For R1 in both W.Ps. : Mr.J.Parekh Kumar Standing Counsel For R2 and R3 in both W.Ps. : Mr.S.Deenadhayalan Standing Counsel _______________ Page No. 2 of 16 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.14752 of 2025 etc. batch W.P.(MD) Nos.14767, 14768, 14780 & 14814 of 2025 S.Kaleeswaran ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14767 of 2025 Guruvaiah ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14780 of 2025 A.Jeyaraj ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14768 of 2025 P.Jegatheesan ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14814 of 2025 Vs. The Commissioner, Srivilliputhur Municipality, Srivilliputhur, Virudhunagar District. ... Respondent in all W.Ps. COMMON PRAYER : Writ Petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records, pertaining to the impugned order in Na.Ka.No.413/2025/A1 dated 22.05.2025 passed by the respondent and quashing the same. For Petitioner in all W.Ps. : Mr.J.Vishnu For Respondent in all W.Ps. : Mr.J.Parekh Kumar Standing Counsel _______________ Page No. 3 of 16 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.14752 of 2025 etc. batch W.P.(MD) Nos.14787 to 14805 of 2025 S.Anandhan ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14787 of 2025 M.Madamuthu ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14788 of 2025 V.Pown ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14789 of 2025 M.Mohamed ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14790 of 2025 A.Subramanian ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14791 of 2025 R.Indra ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14792 of 2025 M.Ganapathy ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14793 of 2025 S.Sundaramahalingam ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14794 of 2025 N.Rajesh Kanna ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14795 of 2025 R.Sethuraman ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14796 of 2025 M.Santhanakalai ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14797 of 2025 A.M.M.Radhashankar ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14798 of 2025 _______________ Page No. 4 of 16 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.14752 of 2025 etc. batch B.Ramachandran ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14799 of 2025 W.Umashankar ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14800 of 2025 M.Ravi Shankar ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14801 of 2025 E.Rajalakshmi ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14802 of 2025 M.Santhanakalai ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14803 of 2025 M.Santhanakalai ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14804 of 2025 Pothys Rep. by its Manager Mr.S.Ananthagurusamy ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD) No.14805 of 2025 Vs. 1.The Commissioner of Municipal Administration, Urban Administrative Building, No.3, MRC Nagar, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai - 600 028. 2.The Regional Director of Municipal Administration, Tirunelveli Region, Tirunelveli. 3.The Commissioner, Srivilliputhur Municipality, _______________ Page No. 5 of 16 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.14752 of 2025 etc. batch Srivilliputhur, Virudhunagar District. 4.The Assistant Engineer (Town), TANGEDCO, Market Bazaar, Srivilliputhur, Virudhunagar District. ... Respondents in all W.Ps. COMMON PRAYER : Writ Petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records, pertaining to the impugned Notice bearing No.Na.Ka.No. 413/2025/A1 dated 22.05.2025 issued by the third respondent in respect of the Bus Stand Shopping Complex Shop Nos.26, 20 & 21, 23, Bus Stand Innerside Shop Nos.130/111 & 130/114, Bus Stand Shopping Complex Northern Side Shop No.1, Bus Stand Shopping Complex Shop Nos.30, 2, 1, 22, 2 & 5 & 6, Bus Stand Asbestos Sheet Shop No.4, Bus Stand Shopping Complex Shop Nos.31, 29, 32, 19, 25, 2, 1, 17 & 18 respectively and quashing the same as arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional. For Petitioner in all W.Ps. : Mr.B.Saravanan, Senior Counsel for Mr.N.K.Ponraj For R1 & R2 in all W.Ps. : Mr.D.Ghandiraj Special Government Pleader For R3 in all W.Ps. : Mr.J.Parekh Kumar Standing Counsel _______________ Page No. 6 of 16 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.14752 of 2025 etc. batch For R4 in all W.Ps. : Mr.S.Deenadhayalan Standing Counsel C O M M O N O R D E R By this common order, all these Writ Petitions are being disposed of. 2. In these Writ Petitions, the respective petitioners, who are tenants of the Commissioner of Srivilliputhur Municipality (the first respondent in some of the petitions and the third respondent in others), have challenged the impugned notices wherein the petitioners have been informed that they will have to vacate the premises that have been leased out to them for running commercial establishments. The petitioners are small shop owners who have been leased out the premises belonging to the respondent, located in the Srivilliputtur Bus Stand. The reasons stated in the impugned order are as follows: ,e;epiyapy; =tpy;ypGj;J}u; efuhl;rpf;F nrhe;jkhd mwpQu; mz;zh NgUe;J epiyaj;jpd; (gioa NgUe;J) fpof;F gf;fk; cs;s kpfTk; gOjhd fl;blk; ve;j Neuj;jpYk; ,be;J tpOe;J nghUl;NrjK;> capu; NrjKk; Vw;gl tha;g;G cs;sJ. ,jid njhlu;e;J epu;thf eyd; kw;Wk; nghJ kf;fspd; eyd; fUjp efuhl;rp filapd; Fj;jifjhuu;fspd; filia elj;jp nfhs;Sk; cupkk; 22.05.2025k; ehs; Kjy; uj;J nra;ag;gLfpwJ. _______________ Page No. 7 of 16 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.14752 of 2025 etc. batch vdNt ,t;twptpg;G fpilf;fg; ngw;w 3 jpdq;fSf;Fs; efuhl;rp filf;fhuu;fs; jhq;fshfNt filapid fhyp nra;J efuhl;rp trk; xg;gilf;f Ntz;Lk;. jtWk; gl;rj;jpy; nghJ eyd; fUjp filfis efuhl;rp %yk; mg;Gwg;gLj;jg;gl;L> NkYk; kpd; ,izg;G Jz;bg;G nra;J gOjhd filfs; ,bj;J mg;Gwg;gLj;jg;gl;LtpLk;. ,t;twptpg;ig nghUl;gLj;jhj efuhl;rp fil Fj;jifjhuu;fs; kPJ ,jdhy; Vw;gLk; rfy tpjkhd ,og;GfSf;Fk; nghWg;ghf;fp ,og;G njhifia t#ypf;f rl;l uPjpahd eltbf;if Nkw;nfhs;sg;gLk; vd;gij ,jd; %yk; fz;bg;ghf njuptpj;Jf; nfhs;sg;gLfpwJ. 3. The reasons given in the impugned order are that the buildings are in a dilapidated condition and therefore, with a view to put up new constructions, the petitioners will have to be shifted from the shops. 4. The impugned notices are challenged by the petitioners on the ground that there are three buildings in the Bus Stand, and only the building on the northern side is in a dilapidated condition, whereas the buildings where the shops of the petitioners are located are not in a dilapidated condition and do not warrant any demolition for fresh construction. 5. It is submitted that the structural report obtained for the building on the northern side is being used as a pretext for evicting the petitioners, _______________ Page No. 8 of 16 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.14752 of 2025 etc. batch who are small shop owners and have been in possession of the shops for over 30 years. 6. It is further submitted that the alternative site identified is located in the middle of the Bus Stand, and the temporary structures put up there are unsafe. The area is prone to waterlogging during the monsoon, and therefore, the petitioners will be put to prejudice if they are shifted to the temporary sheds that have been erected. That apart, it is submitted that since the temporary sheds are located in the middle of the Bus Stand, the shops will not have sufficient footfall, as the buses will be moving around the Bus Stand, as a result of which there will be a loss to the petitioners, and the petitioners may not be in a position to pay the rent to the respondent-Municipality. 7. That apart, it is submitted that only 29 new shops are proposed to be constructed in place of the existing 44 shops, and therefore, the respondents may resort to a pick-and-choose method, resulting in discrimination and hardship among the petitioners. _______________ Page No. 9 of 16 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.14752 of 2025 etc. batch 8. On the other hand, the learned counsel appearing for the Municipality submits that fresh allotments will be made in accordance with G.O. (2D) No.66, Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MA. 4) Department, dated 06.08.2024, wherein it has been stated that an auction will be held and the highest bidder will be given the right to fresh tenancy. In this connection, a reference is made to Paragraph 3(X), which reads as under: “3. NkNy %d;whtjhfg; gbf;fg;gl;l efuhl;rp epu;thf ,af;Feupd; nraw;Fwpg;gpy; cs;s gupe;Jiuapid muR ftdKld; guprPypj;J mjid Vw;W> efu;g;Gw cs;shl;rp mikg;GfSf;F nrhe;jkhd filfs; kw;Wk; tzpf tshfq;fspd; thlif cs;spl;l gy;NtW gpur;rpidfis jPu;g;gjw;fhf mikf;fg;gl;l topfhl;Ljy; FO kw;Wk; Jizf;FOf;fs; mstpNyNa jPu;T fhZtjw;fhf fPo;fhZk; newpKiwfis gpd;gw;wyhk; vdf; fUjp mt;thNw muR MizapLfpwJ. (I) ......... (II) ......... ...... (X) gad;ghl;bYs;s khefuhl;rp / efuhl;rpf;Fr; nrhe;jkhd fl;blq;fis ,bj;J Gjpjhf fl;blq;fs; fl;b Vw;fdNt cs;s Fj;jifjhuu; / cupkjhuu;fSf;F xg;gilf;Fk; epiyapy;> mtHfSld; Gupe;Jzu;T xg;ge;jk; (Memorandum of Understanding) nra;J mNj tshfj;jpy; cs;s filfis nghJ Vyj;jpy; xg;gilg;G _______________ Page No. 10 of 16 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.14752 of 2025 etc. batch nra;Ak; ,dq;fspd; nkhj;j filfspd; ruhrup thlif kjpg;gpid (Average value of open tender) thlifahf epu;zak; nra;J FYf;fy; Kiwapy; ntspg;gilj;jd;ikAld; xg;gilg;G nra;ayhk;. ,t;thW xg;gilg;G nra;Ak; epiyapy; Vw;fdNt mDNghfj;jpy; cs;s Fj;jifjhuUf;F fPo;fz;l epge;jidfis g+u;j;jp nra;Ak; epiyapy; mtu;fSf;F xg;gilg;G nra;ayhk;. (i) ,UKiwahtJ Vyk; GJg;gpf;fg;gl;L 18 Mz;LfSf;F Nkyhf mDNghfj;jpy; cs;s Fj;jifjhuu; / cupkjhuu; my;yJ Fj;jifjhuu; / cupkjhuu;fspd; thupRjhuu;. (ii) cs;thlif / Mf;fpukpg;Gjhuu; my;yhjtu; (ii) gpw tsu;r;rpj; jpl;lg;gzpfSf;fhf filfs; ,lkhw;wk; nra;ag;gLk; epiyapy; Fj;jifjhuu;fSf;Fk; Nkw;$wpa jFjpapd; mbg;gilapy; filfs; / nrhj;Jf;fs; xg;gilf;fyhk;. (iv) ,ize;J njhopy; elj;Jk; (joint venture) Fj;jifjhuu;fs; (Vy gjpNtl;bd; gb mtu;fs; ngau; gjpT nra;jpUf;Fk; epiyapy; kl;Lk;)” 9. In this connection, a reference made to the few decisions passed by this Court as well as the Principal Bench of this Court rendered on either side, which are as follows: i. Sivajirajan Vs. The Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Secretariat, Chennai and another, dated 09.02.2023 rendered in W.P.(MD) No.580 of 2023 etc. batch. _______________ Page No. 11 of 16 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.14752 of 2025 etc. batch ii. N.Kalichamy and another Vs. The Commissioner of Municipal Administration, Urban Administrative Building, No.3, MRC Nagar, Raja Annamalai Puram, Chennai - 600 028. and others, dated 06.02.2024 rendered in W.P.No.35618 of 2023 etc. batch. 10. It is submitted that similar orders have been passed for similar temporary shifting of the tenants/occupants. 11. Having considered the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned counsel for the respondents, this Court is of the view that the Commissioner of Srivilliputhur Municipality is entitled to modernize the bus stand with modern facilities. Therefore, there cannot be any obstruction to the same merely because the petitioners have been tenants for over 30 years, some of whom may have also obtained the shops by way of sub-leasing from other lessees. Since the petitioners have been in possession of the shops for over 30 years, they are entitled to priority in the allotment of the new shops. The number of new shops to be constructed will have to be matched at least with the number of existing shops, if not more. To balance the interests of the parties, the following directions are issued: _______________ Page No. 12 of 16 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.14752 of 2025 etc. batch i. The petitioners shall vacate the shops by the end of this month, i.e. on or before 30.06.2025. ii. The respective petitioners, as well as the other occupants who are willing to continue their business within the premises of the respondent, shall be allotted the new temporary sheds erected by the respondents. iii. The Commissioner shall ensure that the facilities in the temporary sheds meet the requirements of the allottees, so that none of the petitioners are put to any prejudice, especially during the day-to-day operations and the monsoon season. iv. The respondents shall be responsible for the safety of the petitioners by ensuring that the temporary sheds put up are stable, properly demarcated, and do not cause any harm to any of the occupants, by applying the principles of occupiers’ liability. v. The temporary sheds shall be provided with adequate facilities and locking doors, so that the belongings of the respective petitioners are safe. The temporary sheds shall be made ready on or before 30.06.2025. vi. The new shops, which are proposed to be constructed, shall be allotted to the petitioners after fixing a fair rent, upon _______________ Page No. 13 of 16 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.14752 of 2025 etc. batch affording an opportunity of hearing to all the petitioners. In this connection, a committee may be constituted by the Commissioner for the purpose of fixing the fair rent. The petitioners shall be entitled to submit their representations in this regard. Once the fair rent is fixed by the committee, to be nominated by the Commissioner and consisting of members from the public, the same shall be binding on all the parties, and the respective petitioners shall take the new shops on lease accordingly. vii.The respondents shall complete the construction of the new shopping complex as expeditiously as possible. viii.The petitioners shall vacate the temporary sheds once the new shopping complex is ready and the fair rent is fixed. 12. Accordingly, these Writ Petitions are disposed of. No costs. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed. 12.06.2025 JEN Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No Neutral Citation : Yes/No Speaking Order / Non-Speaking Order _______________ Page No. 14 of 16 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.14752 of 2025 etc. batch To 1.The Commissioner of Municipal Administration, Urban Administrative Building, No.3, MRC Nagar, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai - 600 028. 2.The Regional Director of Municipal Administration, Tirunelveli Region, Tirunelveli. 3.The Commissioner, Srivilliputhur Municipality, Srivilliputhur – 626 125, Virudhungar District. 4.The Assistant Engineer (O & M), Market and Bazaar Division, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Ltd., Railway Feeder Road, Srivilliputhur Town, Virudhunagar District. 5.The Executive Engineer (O & M), Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Ltd, Kottaippatti Road, Srivilliputhur Town, Virudhunagar District. _______________ Page No. 15 of 16 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.14752 of 2025 etc. batch C.SARAVANAN , J. JEN W.P.(MD) Nos.14787 to 14805, 14752, 14766 to 14768, 14780 & 14814 of 2025 12.06.2025 _______________ Page No. 16 of 16 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis