W.P.(MD)No.16467 of 2019 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 21.08.2025 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN W.P.(MD)No.16467 of 2019 M.Suresh ... Petitioner -Vs- 1.The District Collector, Dindigul District, Dindigul. 2.The Tahsildar, Nilakkottai Taluk, Dindigul District. 3.The Superintending Engineer, Highways Department, Trichy Road, Dindigul. 4.The Assistant Executive Engineer, Highways Department, Batlagundu, Dindigul District. 5.The Executive Officer, Batlagundu Town Panchayat, Dindigul District. 1/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.16467 of 2019 6.The Inspector of Police (Traffic), Batlagundu Police Station, Dindigul District. ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to remove the encroachments made in both sides of public road starting from Kaliyamman Temple to State Bank of India in Survey No.411 at Madurai Main Road, Batlagundu, Dindiugl District based on the petitioner's representation dated 04.07.2018 and 25.04.2019. For Petitioner : Mr.A.Joel Paul Antony For R1 to R5 : Mr.M.Ajmal Khan, Additional Advocate General, assisted by Mr.P.Thilak Kumar, Government Pleader For R6 : Mr.T.Senthil Kumar, Additional Public Prosecutor ORDER (Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.) With reference to the relief sought for in the present Writ Petition, the learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the respondents 1 to 5 has furnished photographs to show that encroachments in the highways had been removed. 2/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.16467 of 2019 2.The highways authorities are directed to maintain highways properly and prevent any further encroachments in the highways in the interest of public. In the event of allowing any encroachment and in the event of untoward incident on account of such encroachments, the officials of the Highways Department must be personally held responsible and accountable. 3.The Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001 contemplates that the highways are to be maintained free from encroachment for free usage of road users and the boundaries of the highways should be maintained intact to prevent accidents and for future expansion. 4.With the above observation, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. (S.M.S., J.) & (G.A.M., J.) 21.08.2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Yuva 3/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.16467 of 2019 To 1.The District Collector, Dindigul District, Dindigul. 2.The Tahsildar, Nilakkottai Taluk, Dindigul District. 3.The Superintending Engineer, Highways Department, Trichy Road, Dindigul. 4.The Assistant Executive Engineer, Highways Department, Batlagundu, Dindigul District. 5.The Executive Officer, Batlagundu Town Panchayat, Dindigul District. 6.The Inspector of Police (Traffic), Batlagundu Police Station, Dindigul District. 4/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.16467 of 2019 S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J. AND G.ARUL MURUGAN, J. Yuva W.P.(MD)No.16467 of 2019 21.08.2025 5/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis