W.P.No.22597 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS Reserved on : 23.05.2025 Pronounced on : ....07.2025 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE V.LAKSHMINARAYANAN W.P.No.22597 of 2024 and W.M.P.No.24626 of 2024 1. Sundar.P S/o. Ponnan 2. Karthikeyan S/o.Palyam 3. D.Kala W/o.Dharamaraj 4. R.Sugumar S/o.Rathnam 5. M.Veeran S/o.Manickam 6. Luyis Mariyageorge S/o.Mariyageorge 7.Doss Anthony S/o.Anthony 8. Babu S/o.Sabarimuthu 9. Gowri Manmadhan W/o.Manmadhan 10. B.Jayaram S/o.Balan 11. Jothi.M D/o.Mari 1/17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.22597 of 2024 12. M.Anbarasu S/o.Mari 13. Murugan Veeragavan S/o.Veeragavan 14. D.Palanikumar S/o.Deivasigamani 15. Sasikumar S/o.Mani 16. Raguram S/o.Mani 17.Amaravathi W/o.Raja 18.Baby W/o.Sakthivel 19. Udhayashankar Lakshmipathi 20. Rajam.K W/o.Kuppusamy 21. M.Vijaya W/o.Muthu 22. Selvakumari.R W/o.Ravikumar 23. Annammal Durai W/o.Durai 24. Malika.K W/o.Kanagasundaram 25. Babu 26. D.Nagaraj S/o.Darmaraj 27.Lakshmi A D/o.Subramani 2/17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.22597 of 2024 28.Sampath 29. Suresh Kubendiran S/o.Kubendiran 30. Sivagami W/o.Panniyakotti.E 31. Murali Punniyakotti S/o.Punniyakotti 32. Uthami Sundaram W/o.Sundaram 33. N.Ramani W/o.Nelson Nesaraj 34. Kumar.K S/o.Kaliyappan 35. Amudha 36. Prabhakaran Venugopal S/o.Venugopal 37. Staline Kuppusamy S/o.Kuppusamy 38. Malathy Kalyanasundaram W/o.Kalyanasundaram 39. Sharmila 40. D.Arumugam S/o.Deivasigamani 41. Palayam Santanam S/o.Santhanam 42. T.Arun S/o.Thirusanku 43. Mohana Loganathan W/o.Loganathan 44. Radhakrishnan.L 3/17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.22597 of 2024 S/o.Loganathan 45.Ganesan Munusamy S/o.Munusamy 46. Shakila Palayam D/o.Palayam 47. Siva Micheal S/o.Micheal 48.Murugan Nagappan S/o.Nagappan 49. Raja Vedhamanickam S/o.Vedhamanickam 50. Rubanathan S/o.Vedhamanickam 51.Sundaram.N S/o.Naliappan 52. Annamalai Nalliyappan S/o.Nalliyappan 53. Kanthimathi Sokkalingam W/o.Sokkalingam 54. Anandan Kannan S/o.Kannan 55.Suresh Veeragavan S/o.Veeragavan 56. Ramki S/o.Raja Bakthar 57.Selvi W/o.Raja Baskar 58. Vijaya.S W/o.Saminathan 59.Selvamani S/o.Shanmugam 4/17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.22597 of 2024 60. Anandhan.S S/o.Shanmugam 61.Shankar S/o.Kannan 62. Narayanasamy Devan S/o.Devan 63. Murugan Subramani S/o.Subramani 64. Elangovan 65.J.Vasanthi W/o.Jayaram.B 66. Nesaraj S/o.Anandhan 67. M.Veeran S/o.Mudichan 68.Rajini S/o.Appavu 69. Kuttyappan.S S/o.Subramani 70. B.Padma 71.B.Kalyani W/o.Balachanthiran 72. Kanniyammal 73. Amirtham.P W/o.Paul Prabhakaran 74.Saravanan S/o.Mari 75.Vembu Ammasi S/o.Ammasi 76. Rajeswari Manokaran 5/17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.22597 of 2024 W/o.Manoharan 77. Manikandan S/o.Munusamy 78. Ravichandran 79. Anjalai.S W/o.Shanmugam 80. Karunakaran.V S/o.Venugopal 81. V.Janaki W/o.Velayudham 82. Malliga 83. Mageshkumar Venu S/o.Venu 84.Ashokkumar Venu S/o.Venu 85. Sathiyaseelan Venu S/o.Venu 86.Ganapathy S S/o.Shanmugam 87. Veenus Babu V S/o.Vedachalam 88. Sumathi Thenarasu S/o.Thenarasu Govindasamy 89. Lakshmi W/o.Palayam 90.Radhakrishnan 91. Janagiraman Valmurthy S/o.Valmurthy 92. Mari 6/17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.22597 of 2024 93. Elizabeth Yuvanjalin Ashokkumar D/o.Ashokkumar 94. Surya Arumugam S/o.Arumugam 95.Sivakumar Arumugam S/o.Arumugam 96.Sathish S/o.Selvaraj 97. V.Prabakaran S/o.Venugopal 98. S.Pramila W/o.Suriya Babu 99. Durai Sanmugam S/o.Sanmugam 100.Rajesh Durai S/o.Durai 101. Vairamuthu S/o.Durai 102. Elangovan S/o.Durai 103. Sam Perumal S/o.Perumal 104. Stalin Perumal S/o.Perumal 105. Prameela Perumal W/o.Benny 106. D.Rajakumar S/o.T.Duraisamy 107.Rajendran.P S/o.Panayappan 108.M.Mallika W/o.Mani 7/17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.22597 of 2024 109. Siva.S S/o.Santhanam 110. Thirunavukkarasu 111. Rajenthiran S/o.Chinnapaiyan 112. R.Kalaivanan S/o.Rajendran 113. Manonmani Dhayalan W/o.Dhayalan 114. P.Doss S/o. Panai Appan 115. Marimuthu.S S/o.Singaram 116. Banumathi Arumugam W/o. Arumugam 117. S.Lakshmi W/o.Sridhar 118. Vincent Vadhachalam S/o.Vedhachalam 119. Dharani Kumar.S S/o.Selvaraj 120. Raja S/o.Velayutham 121. Vimal Paramasivam S/o.Paramasivam 122. Ashok Paramasivam S/o.Paramasivam 123. Praveena D/o. Kuppuswamy 124. Kumar Sundaram S/o.Sundaram 8/17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.22597 of 2024 125. Manibalan S/o.Sundaram 126. Venugopal Ponnusamy S/o.Ponnusamy 127. Vengaiya 128.Kuppan 129. Jayaraman Santhanam S/o.Santhanam 130. Ravi Thulakannam S/o.Thulakanam 131. D.Kumar S/o.Duraisamy.T 132. Jayakumar.D S/o.Duraisamy.T 133. Rajashekar 134. B.Vadivelu S/o.Balakrishnan 135. Logidassan S/o.Balakrishnan 136. Dilliyamal.B S/o.Balakrishnan 137. Paramasivam Vellai S/o.Vellai 138. Saratha Munnusamy W/o.Munnusamy 139. Indira D/o.Santhanam 140. G.Rajini S/o. Gopal.M 141. Selvaraj Kuppan 142. Jothi 9/17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.22597 of 2024 143. Mani Eatti S/o.Eatti 144. Vanitha D/o.Gubendiran 145. Maran Chinnapaiyan S/o.Chinnapaiyan 146. M.Anthoni S/o. Munusamy 147. Manthi W/o.Duraisami.T 148.Sridhar S/o.Arumugam 149. M.Veran 150. Kirubaimariyal Meganathan W/o.Meganathan 151.D.Rose W/o.Durai 152. M.Selvi 153. Govindasami S/o.Singaram 154. D.Babu Sekar ... Petitioners Vs. 1.The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by its Principal Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration & Water Supply Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009. 2.The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by its Principal Secretary to Government, Public Works Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009. 3.The District Collector, District Collectorate, Thiruvallur. 10/17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.22597 of 2024 4.The Revenue Divisional Officer, J.N.Road (Near State Bank of India & Post Office), Thiruvallur - 602 001. 5.The Tahsildar, No.5, Trunk Road, Ettima Nagar, Poonamallee, Chennai - 600 056. 6.The Commissioner, Thiruverkadu Municipality, Thiruverkadu. 7.The Assistant Engineer W.R.D, Adayar Irrigation Section, St. Thomas Mount, Chennai - 600 016. 8.The Assistant Engineer W.R.D., Kosathalaiyaru Irrigation Section, Chepauk, Chennai – 600 005. ... Respondents Prayer: Writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, forbearing the respondents from initiation eviction in connection with Section 6 Notice, dated 29.07.2024 issued by the 8th respondent without considering the petitioners' representation dated 04.07.2024. For Petitioners : Mr.S.Prabakaran, Senior Counsel, For Mr.M.A.Gouthaman. For Respondents : Mr.L.S.M.Hasan Fizal, Addl. Govt. Pleader for R1, R2, R7 & R8. Mr.J.Ravindran, Additional Advocate General, assisted by Mr.Mohamed Sathik, Government Advocate for R3 to R6. * * * ORDER (By G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.) The writ petitioners want this Court to forebear the respondents from evicting them from their respective premises. 11/17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.22597 of 2024 2.It is admitted that the writ petitioners are residing in S.No.1/1A, Thiruverkadu Village. It was originally comprised in Sriperumbudur Taluk. At present, it is comprised in Poonamallee Taluk. Copy of the "A" register has been made available. It is seen therefrom that S.No.1/1A has been classified as "Cooum River". Thus, it is beyond dispute that the writ petitioners are in occupation of river poramboke. It has been held time and again both by the Madras High Court as well as the Hon'ble Supreme Court that encroachments in water bodies cannot be permitted and they cannot be regularized notwithstanding the length of time in the matter of occupation (vide T.K.Shanmugam -vs- State of Tamil Nadu AIR 2016 MAD 25). In view of the aforesaid authoritative decision of the Hon'ble Full Bench, no person in occupation of a water body can claim any relief or protection at the hands of the Court. 3.It is true that even a person in wrongful possession cannot be suddenly dispossessed. He / she will have to be given notice. In the case of hand, Form I and Form II notices were given to all the 160 families on 08.05.2024. It is relevant to mention here that even in the year 2017, steps were taken to evict the petitioners and they then filed W.P.No.33981 of 2017. The writ petition was disposed of by the Hon'ble First Bench with a direction to the Tahsildar, Poonamallee to issue notices to the writ petitioners within a period of one week and call upon them to submit their explanation along with relevant documents as to why, they should not be evicted from S.No.1/1A which is a Coovam River Poromboke. On receipt of such explanation from the petitioners, the Tahsildar was directed to consider same and pass a speaking order on merits and thereafter proceed in accordance with law. 12/17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.22597 of 2024 4.Pursuant to the said direction, the Tahsildar, Poonamallee conducted enquiry and rejected the request of the writ petitioners for re-classification of the petition mentioned land as "Grama Natham". The Tahsildar called upon the competent authority of Water Resources Department to take action for evicting the writ petitioners herein vide proceedings dated 31.07.2023. 5.Since river poramboke fell within the jurisdiction of Water Resources Department, the Assistant Engineer, Water Resources Department, Adayar Irrigation Section, Chennai also issued notices. The Tahsildar, Poonamallee made available the list of 160 encroachers vide communication dated 08.05.2024. In the meanwhile, the writ petitioners herein filed appeal before the Revenue Divisional Officer, Thiruvallur purporting to challenge the notices dated 31.07.2023 issued by the Tahsildar, Poonamallee. The writ petitioners subsequently filed W.P.No.15213 of 2024 for forbearing the authorities from evicting them within considering their statutory appeal. The said writ petition was disposed of by the Hon'ble Division Bench on 13.06.2024 with a direction to the jurisdictional Revenue Divisional Officer to dispose of the appeal dated 24.05.2024 within a period of ten days i.e., 24.06.2024. It was further clarified that if the Revenue Divisional Officer was not the appellate authority and if there is no statutory provision for appeal to him, it was open to the fourth respondent therein to say so. Vide order dated 22.06.2024, the Revenue Divisional Officer dismissed the appeal. It appears that this order passed by the Revenue Divisional Officer, Thiruvallur was not challenged and that it has become final. 13/17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.22597 of 2024 6.The only question that calls for consideration is regarding the character of S.No.1/1A, Thiruverkadu Village. The authorities have conclusively proved that it is a "river poramboke" (Cooum River) by producing the FMB Sketch and “A” Register extract. When admittedly, it is a water body, the writ petitioners cannot have any defence. The maximum indulgence that they can seek is for asking reasonable time to vacate. If they are eligible, then they can seek alternative accommodation. 7.Even though the writ petitioners are encroachers and their encroachment comes under objectionable category, the government has taken suitable steps to rehabilitate them. Alternative housing accommodation has been made ready. All that the writ petitioners need to do is to offer their bio-metric details. The respondents are ready to hand over keys to the writ petitioners, the moment they vacate the premises in question 8.On account of encroachment of the writ petitioners, the government has not been able to implement the Integrated Cooum River Eco-Restoration Project. The government wants to restore the river to its original position. The project remains struck on account of the encroachments. The Madras High Court in hundreds of cases has given categorical direction to remove the encroachments in water bodies. Removing the encroachments in water bodies is a constitutional duty cast on the government. 9.Since on account of the encroachments, the government project could not be implemented, we direct the authorities concerned to ensure that all the encroachments in 14/17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.22597 of 2024 Cooum River are cleared within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The District Collector, Thiruvallur District and the Commissioner of Police, Avadi Police Commissionerate are directed to extend their fullest assistance and cooperation to ensure that this drive is successfully completed. If the authorities fail to clear the encroachments as mandated above, it will constitute contempt of Court. 10.Recording the stand of the learned Additional Advocate General that all the writ petitioners would be rehabilitated, the writ petition is dismissed with the aforesaid directions. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. (G.R.S., J.) & (V.L.N., J.) ......07.2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No ias 15/17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.22597 of 2024 To: 1.The Principal Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration & Water Supply Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009. 2.The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by its Principal Secretary to Government, Public Works Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009. 3.The District Collector, District Collectorate, Thiruvallur. 4.The Revenue Divisional Officer, J.N.Road (Near State Bank of India & Post Office), Thiruvallur - 602 001. 5.The Tahsildar, No.5, Trunk Road, Ettima Nagar, Poonamallee, Chennai -? 600 056. 6.The Commissioner, Thiruverkadu Municipality, Thiruverkadu. 7.The Assistant Engineer W.R.D, Adayar Irrigation Section, St. Thomas Mount, Chennai - 600 016. 8.The Assistant Engineer W.R.D., Kosathalaiyaru Irrigation Section, Chepauk, Chennai – 600 005. 16/17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.22597 of 2024 G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J. AND V.LAKSHMINARAYANAN, J. ias W.P.No.22597 of 2024 .......07.2025 17/17 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis