Cont.P.No.1315 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 10.07.2026 CORAM : THE HONOURABLE MR. SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN Contempt Petition No.1315 of 2025 Coimbatore Consumer Cause Rep. by its Secretary, K.Kathirmathiyon, (Regd.No.110/97) No.3B, 4th Floor, “MayFlower Valencia”, 1264-C, Avinashi Road, Nava India, Coimbatore-641 004. Petitioner Vs 1.Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar, I.A.S. District Collector, Coimbatore-641 018. 2.Sivaguru Prabakaran, I.A.S., Commissioner, Corporation of Coimbatore, Coimbatore-641 001. Respondents PRAYER : Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 to punish the respondents for willful disobedience to the directions dated 20.09.2016 issued in W.P.No.11612 of 2016. ______________ https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Cont.P.No.1315 of 2025 For Petitioner: Ms.K.N.Darsita for Mr.S.Sathia Chandran For Respondents: Mr.K.Kumaran Government Pleader for R1 Mr.D.Ferdinand Standing Counsel for R2 ORDER (Order of the Court was made by G.Arul Murugan, J.) This contempt petition is filed alleging disobedience of the order dated 20.09.2016 passed in W.P.No.11612 of 2016. 2. While disposing of the writ petition, the following order was passed and the matter was directed to be listed for compliance: “We have perused the counter-affidavit of respondent No.3 and take the assurance given by the respondents on record undertaking that there shall be full compliance with the same. We may note that one year time period is sought for clearing the water area of the encroachments and other constructions, excluding the structures (tabular column Sl. Nos.1 to 7) mentioned in paragraph 5. Thus, we would like to monitor the progress in this behalf with a periodic status report being filed showing the compliances along with map of the area and photographs. ______________ https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Cont.P.No.1315 of 2025 2. The writ petition, accordingly, stands disposed of. No costs. 3. List for compliance on 16.12.2016. 4. The compliance report be filed atleast three days prior to the next date of hearing with advance copy to the learned counsel for the petitioner. 5. Needless to say, the interim direction made on 09.06.2016 to form part of the final direction.” 3. The writ petition was filed alleging certain encroachments on the waterbodies in Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation. 4. A detailed compliance report has been filed by the second respondent, inter alia, stating that all the encroachments found in the waterbodies have been removed. Atleast 1546 residential structures spread across 27 acres in Valankulam lake and 2309 encroachments in Kumarasamy @ Muthannan lake and further 1550 encroachments in other lakes have already been removed. ______________ https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Cont.P.No.1315 of 2025 5. Paragraph 7 of the compliance report is extracted hereunder: “7. I respectfully submit that the Railway tracks were built at least before 5 decades before, due to effective, cheaper, faster transportation and to cater the transformation of population growth. Other encroachments were removed and the details of the same are furnished for easy understanding of quantum of encroachment: “Initially eight ponds belonging to the Public Works Department (PWD) were handed over to the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation on a 90 year lease. Subsequently, Kurichi Lake was also transferred to the Corporation. In these lands, based on the list of encroachers obtained from the Public Works Department and through the identification of beneficiaries using the Municipal Corporation’s biometric process, encroachments were removed. The identified encroachers were allocated housing and resettled through the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (formerly known as the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board). 1. Valankulam Lake: A total of 1,546 residential structures spread across 27 acres in the main water body area were completely removed. A report regarding this has been submitted to the Hon’ble High Court. ______________ https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Cont.P.No.1315 of 2025 2. Kumarasamy Lake (a) Muthanna Lake: About 2,309 encroachments were removed during the years 2021 and 2022, and the occupants were resettled in housing units constructed by the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board. Despite ongoing legal challenges by some encroachers, removal was carried out based on appropriate orders obtained from the High Court and the Supreme Court. The Corporation ensured the removal was conducted peacefully without any law-and-order issues, even in the face of various protests. 3. Other Lakes: A total of 1,550 encroachments were removed from the lakes of Periyakulam, Selva Chinthamani, Narasampathi, Selvampathi, Krishnampathi, and Kurichi. 4. Noyyal River Watercourse: A digital survey was conducted for a length of 22.24 kilometers within the limits of the Municipal Corporation. As part of this, boundary stones were installed at a cost of approximately Rs.2.00 crore, and around 20,000 palm seeds were planted along the banks to safeguard the watercourse.” 6. It is stated that now the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation is promoting city project and are maintaining the waterbodies free from encroachments. ______________ https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Cont.P.No.1315 of 2025 7. Recording the compliance report, the contempt petition is closed. No costs. (SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CJ) (G.ARUL MURUGAN,J) 10.07.2026 Index : Yes/No Neutral Citation : Yes/No bbr ______________ https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Cont.P.No.1315 of 2025 THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND G.ARUL MURUGAN, J. bbr Contempt Petition No.1315 of 2025 10.07.2026 ______________ https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis