W.P.No.17029 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 09.07.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE G. JAYACHANDRAN AND THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE N.MALA W.P.No.17029 of 2026 Sivakumar S/o Kathavarayan, Mampattu Village, Polur Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District 606 803. .. Petitioner /versus/ 1.The Secretary to Government, Public Works Department, Fort St.George,Chennai 600 009. 2.The District Collector, Thiruvannamalai District. 3.The Tahsildar, Polur Taluk,Thiruvannamalai District. 4.The Commissioner, Panchayat union,Polur. 5.The Assistant Executive Engineer, Central Pennaiyaru Drainage Division, Tamil Nadu Water Supply & Drainage Department, Vivekanandar Street, E.B.Nagar, Sevur Post, Arani Taluk,Thiruvannamalai District. .. Respondents 1/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.17029 of 2026 Writ petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to protect the water body namely, Manjal River @ Polur River from encroachment in the S.No.231 and 239 by laying pucca road on the river bund. For Petitioner :M/s Dhineshkumar, Asst. for Mr.M.Ravindhar For Respondents :Mr.B.Sivakollapan, GA for R1 to R5 ORDER (Order of the Court was delivered by Dr.G.Jayachandran,J.) The Writ petition has been filed seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to protect the water body, namely, Manjal River @ Polur River from encroachment in the Survey Nos.231 and 239 by laying a pucca road on the river bund. 2.State report filed by the respondents indicates that the alleged encroachment along the Manjal River has been removed and boundary stones have been fixed. 3.The learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents submitted that the road proposed to be laid along the river bund has also been withdrawn. 4.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the original 2/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.17029 of 2026 width of the river has not been restored. 5.From the photographs furnished by the Assistant Engineer, Water Resources Department, we find that the river bund has been surveyed and boundary stones have been fixed. Since there is no water flow in the river as on date, we are not in a position to express any opinion about the alleged restoration of the original width of the river, which is exclusively within the knowledge of the Water Resources Department, PWD. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is disposed of, in view of the action taken by the authorities for the removal of the encroachment and the restoration of the river bund, with a direction to the authorities to ensure that there is no encroachment in future and the free flow of river water during the rainy season is not obstructed. There shall be no order as to costs. (Dr.G.JAYACHANDRAN,J.) (N.MALA,J.) 09.07.2026 ari Index:yes/no Neutral citation:yes/no 3/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.17029 of 2026 To 1.The Secretary to Government, Public Works Department, Fort St.George, Chennai 600 009. 2.The District Collector, Thiruvannamalai District. 3.The Tahsildar, Polur Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District. 4.The Commissioner, Panchayat union, Polur. 5.The Assistant Executive Engineer, Central Pennaiyaru Drainage Division, Tamil Nadu Water Supply & Drainage Department, Vivekanandar Street, E.B.Nagar, Sevur Post, Arani Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District. 4/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.17029 of 2026 Dr.G. JAYACHANDRAN,J. AND N.MALA,J. ari W.P.No.17029 of 2026 09.07.2026 5/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis