BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 10.09.2025 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE ANITA SUMANTH AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN W.P.(MD)Nos.17626 of 2017 and 26881 & 26760 of 2019 and W.M.P(MD)Nos.14180 & 14181 of 2017 &23239 of 2019 A.Jeyaprakash Narayanasamy ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD)Nos.17626/2017 & 26881/2019 Desiva Vivasaaigal Sangam Rep. by its President, Renganayagalu .. Petitioner in W.P.(MD)No.26760/2019 Vs. 1.The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by its Principal Secretary to Government, Revenue Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai- 600 009. 2.The State of Tamil Nadu represented by its Principal Secretary to Government, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, 1/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Chennai- 600 009. 3.The Commissioner of Revenue Administration, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai- 600 005. 4.The District Collector, Collectorate, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli. 5.The District Collector, Collectorate, Tuticorin District, Tuticorin. .. Respondents 1 to 5 in W.P.(MD)Nos.17626/2017 & 26881/2019 and .. Respondents 1,2 &4 to 6 in W.P.(MD)No.26760/2019 6.R.Devi 7.Ponnuraj .. Respondents 6 & 7 in WP(MD)No.17626/2017 6.The State Election Commissioner, O/o.the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission, No.208/2, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Arumpakkam, Chennai- 600 106. .. 6th Respondent in WP(MD)No.26881/2019 and .. 3rd Respondent in in W.P.(MD)No.26760/2019 [R6 & R7 are impleaded vide court order dated 07.07.2025 inWMP(MD)No.15497 and 16691 of 2017 in WP(MD)No.17626/17 by SMSJ and ADMCJ] 2/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis PRAYER in WP(MD)No.17626/2017: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records in pursuant to the impugned Government Order issued by the 2nd respondent in G.O.(Ms).No.98 Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (PR.II) Department dated 01.09.2017 and quash the same and consequently, direct the respondents to transferring the 12 village Panchayats namely 1)Pitchaithalaivanpatti, 2) Appaneri, 3) Vadakkupatti, 4) Nakkalamuthampatti, 5) Pillayarnatham, 6) Ayyaneri, 7) Jameen Devar Kulam 8)Chithirampatti, 9)Puliyankulam 10)Ilaiyarasanendhal 11)Venkatachalapuram and 12) Mukkoothumalai situated in Kuruvikulam Panchayat Union, Tirunelveli District to Kovilpatti Panchayat Union, Tuticorin District pursuant to the orders issued by the 1st respondent in G.O.Ms.No.213, Revenue (Va.Nee 1) Department, daed 15.04.2008 and G.O(MS)No.628, Home (Police Station. XIV) Department, dated 02.09.2013 for the benefit of day-to-day administration work of the above said village people. PRAYER in WP(MD)No.26881 of 2019: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondents to declare the 12 village Panchayats namely 1)Pitchaithalaivanpatti, 2) Appaneri, 3) Vadakkupatti, 4) Nakkalamuthampatti, 5) Pillayarnatham, 6) Ayyaneri, 7) Jameen Devar Kulam 8)Chithirampatti, 9)Puliyankulam 10)Ilaiyarasanendhal 11)Venkatachalapuram and 12) Mukkoothumalai to be attached with the 3/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Kovilpatti Panchayat Union, Tuticorin District, for the benefit of day-to- day administration work of the above said village people to conduct the Village Panchayat Election as per the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994. PRAYER in WP(MD)No.26760 of 2019: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondents to transferring the 12 village Panchayats namely 1)Pitchaithalaivanpatti, 2) Appaneri, 3) Vadakkupatti, 4) Nakkalamuthampatti, 5) Pillayarnatham, 6) Ayyaneri, 7) Jameen Devar Kulam 8)Chithirampatti, 9)Puliyankulam 10)Ilaiyarasanendhal 11)Venkatachalapuram and 12)Mukkutumalai situated at Kuruvikulam Panchayat Union, Tirunelveli District (Now at Thenkasi District) to Kovilpatti Panchayat Union, Tuticorin District. For Petitioner : Mr.N.Saravanakumar in WP(MD)Nos.17626/2017 & 26881/2019 : Mr.S.Ramasamy in W.P.(MD)No.26760/2019 For Respondents : Mr.D.Sadiq Raja Additional Government Pleader for R1 to R5 in WP(MD)No.17626/2017 : Mr.D.Sadiq Raja Additional Government Pleader for R1 to R6 in WP(MD)No.26881/2019 & WP(MD)No.26760/2019 4/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis COMMON ORDER (Order of the Court was made by DR.ANITA SUMANTH, J.) The petitioner in these writ petitions challenge the Government Order in G.O.(Ms)No.98 Rural Development and Panchayat Raj(PR.II) Department dated 01.09.2017 whereunder the following village panchayats, 1)Pitchaithalaivanpatti, 2) Appaneri, 3) Vadakkupatti, 4) Nakkalamuthampatti, 5) Pillayarnatham, 6) Ayyaneri, 7) Jameen Devar Kulam, 8)Chithirampatti, 9) Puliyankulam, 10) Ilaiyarasanendhal, 11)Venkatachalapuram and 12) Mukkoothumalai, were directed to be retained in Kuruvikulam Panchayat Development Block of Tirunelveli District. The petitioner has sought a consequential direction to the effect that the above 12 village panchayats must be transferred and aligned with Kovilpatti Panchayat Union, Tuticorin District, as he believes that, that would benefit day-to-day administration. 2. Mr.D.Sadiq Raja, who appears for respondents refers to a 5/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis counter filed by the second respondent/the Additional Chief Secretary to Government, [Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (PR-II) Department], where it is stated that Grama Sabha meetings have been conducted in the above 12 village panchayats and all have unanimously resolved to include their Panchayat to the Kovilpatti Panchayat Union in Tuticorin District. 3. The Resolutions are stated to have been forwarded to the Director of Rural Department and Panchayat Raj, Chennai, on 24.08.2024 for necessary action. All that remains now is to await necessary orders to be passed and Mr.Sadiq Raja, on instructions, states that necessary orders will be passed within three months. 4. Recording his submission and the prayers sought for now stand achieved, G.O.(Ms)No.98 Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (PR-II) Department dated 01.09.2017 is quashed and Mandamus is issued to the respondents to do the needful as set out in para 26 and 27 of their counter. 6/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 5. In fine, all writ petitions are allowed. No Costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. [A.S.M.J.,] & [C.K.J.,] 10.09.2025 NCC :Yes/No Index :Yes/No Internet : Yes/No PJL To 1.The Principal Secretary to Government, State of Tamil Nadu, Revenue Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai- 600 009. 2.The State of Tamil Nadu represented by its Principal Secreatry to Government, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai- 600 009. 3.The Commissioner of Revenue Administration, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai- 600 005. 7/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 4.The District Collector, Collectorate, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli. 5.The District Collector, Collectorate, Tuticorin District, Tuticorin. 6.The State Election Commissioner, O/o.the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission, No.208/2, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Arumpakkam, Chennai- 600 106. 8/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis DR.ANITA SUMANTH, J. AND C.KUMARAPPAN, J. PJL Order made in W.P.(MD)Nos.17626 of 2017 and 26881 & 26760 of 2019 Dated: 10.09.2025 9/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis