W.P.No.1919 of 2022 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 13.03.2025 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.SUNDAR and THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE K.GOVINDARAJAN THILAKAVADI W.P.No.1919 of 2022 1. AV.Periyannan S/o.Varadhappa Gounder 2. P.Sathiyaraj S/o.AV.Periyannan ... Petitioners vs. 1. The District Collector Collectorate Kallakuruchi District – 606 202 2. The Revenue Divisional Officer Collectorate Kallakuruchi District – 606 202 3. The Tahsildar Chinnasalem Taluk Salem Main Road, Chinnasalem Kallakuruchi – 606 201 4. The Superintending Engineer Water Resource Department Vellar Basin Circle No.60, PWD Campus Page Nos.1/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.1919 of 2022 Nellikuppam Road, Manjakuppam Cuddalore – 607 001 5. The Assistant Engineer (PWD-WRO) PWD Quarters Vellar Basin Sub-Division Office Campus Kachirayapalayam Road Kallakurichi – 606 213 ... Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of The Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to remove the encroachment in the Government Poromboke land (water channel-odai) situated in Survey No.826/15 situated in Chinnasalem, Kallakurichi District as stated in the communication dated 26.02.2001 by the Chief Minister's Special Cell as expeditiously as possible and restore the water body to its original position. For Petitioner : Mr.L.Chandrakumar For Respondents : Mr.T.K.Saravanan Additional Government Pleader O R D E R [Order of the Court was made by K.GOVINDARAJAN THILAKAVADI, J.,] Captioned writ petition is filed with a mandamus prayer directing the respondents to remove the encroachment in the Government poramboke land (water channel-odai) situate in Survey No.826/15, Chinnasalem, Kallakurichi District. Page Nos.2/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.1919 of 2022 2. It is stated by the writ petitioners that though a reply was received by the writ petitioners from the Chief Minister's Cell that appropriate action would be taken to remove the encroachment, so far no action has been taken. Hence, the writ petitioners have filed the above writ petition for a direction to the respondents to remove the alleged encroachment in the said land. 3. Issue notice to the respondents. 4. Mr.T.K.Saravanan, learned Additional Government Pleader accepts notice for respondents. 5. The learned State counsel, on instructions, submits that the subject land was originally classified as Odai poramboke and thereafter, during the 'UDR scheme' ['Updating Registry Scheme'], the same has been wrongly classified as 'jupR epyk; ' and now the enquriy is underway before District Revenue Officer for correcting the classification. 6. In view of the above stated position of the learned State counsel, we pass the following order: (i) The appropriate authority shall conduct enquiry with regard to classification of the said land within a period of four Page Nos.3/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.1919 of 2022 weeks from today i.e., on or before 10.04.2025 and thereafter, conduct survey in the said land within a period of two weeks thereafter i.e., on or before 24.04.2025; (ii) If any encroachment is found in the said land, the appropriate authority shall take necessary action to remove the alleged encroachment in the said land under 'The Tamil Nadu Protection of Tanks and Eviction of Encroachment Act, 2007' (hereinafter 'Tanks Act' for the sake of convenience and clarity) or any other appropriate Statute after show-causing the alleged encroachers and if any representation is received from the alleged encroachers, the same shall be considered before passing any final orders. This writ petition is disposed of with the above directions. There shall be no order as to costs. (M.S.,J.) (K.G.T.,J.) 13.03.2025 Index : Yes/No Neutral Citation : Yes/No gpa Page Nos.4/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.1919 of 2022 To 1. The District Collector Collectorate Kallakuruchi District – 606 202 2. The Revenue Divisional Officer Collectorate Kallakuruchi District – 606 202 3. The Tahsildar Chinnasalem Taluk Salem Main Road, Chinnasalem Kallakuruchi – 606 201 4. The Superintending Engineer Water Resource Department Vellar Basin Circle No.60, PWD Campus Nellikuppam Road, Manjakuppam Cuddalore – 607 001 5. The Assistant Engineer (PWD-WRO) PWD Quarters Vellar Basin Sub-Division Office Campus Kachirayapalayam Road Kallakurichi – 606 213 Page Nos.5/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.1919 of 2022 M.SUNDAR, J., and K.GOVINDARAJAN THILAKAVADI, J., gpa W.P.No.1919 of 2022 13.03.2025 Page Nos.6/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis