WP.Crl.No.566 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 14.07.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN WP.Crl.No.566 of 2026 K.Dharmalingam ... Petitioner Vs. 1.The District Superintendent of Police, Salem District, Salem. 2.The Inspector of Police, Athur Police Station, Athur, Salem District. 3.Manikannan 4.Duraisamy 5.Ravi ... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition(Crl.) filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying to issue a WRIT OF MANDAMUS directing the Respondents 1 and 2 herein to give suitable police protection to the petitioner to lay underground pipeline for the purpose of irrigation in pursuance to the order passed by the Tahsildar, Athur Taluk, dated 23.02.2026 and the order passed by the Special Officer, Ammampalayam Panchayat dated https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP.Crl.No.566 of 2026 03.03.2026 For Petitioner : Mr.C.Munusamy For Respondents For R1 & 2 : Mr.R.Ganesh Kumar, Counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu (Criminal Side) For R3 to 5 : Mr.D.Balachandran ORDER This writ petition has been filed praying for a direction to respondents 1 and 2 to give suitable police protection to the petitioner to lay underground pipeline for the purpose of irrigation in pursuant to the order passed by the Tahsildar, Athur Taluk dated 23.02.2026 and the order passed by the Special Officer, Ammampalayam Panchayat dated 03.03.2026. 2. On perusal of records, it is found that the petitioner is having agricultural land to an extent of 1.65 ½ acres comprised in survey No.293/1C1 and 293/3 situated at Ammampalayam Village, Athur Taluk, Salem District. The petitioner owns a bore well for the land situated at survey No.292/1C1 whereas the land comprised in survey No.232/9 is not https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP.Crl.No.566 of 2026 having any bore well and it has only a open well. In order to irrigate the said land, the petitioner intended to lay underground pipeline to draw water from one land to another land for the purpose of irrigation. Therefore, the petitioner applied for permission to lay underground pipeline before the jurisdictional tahsildar. The Tahsildar concerned inspected the property and granted permission by order dated 23.02.2026 to lay underground pipeline through the land comprised in survey numbers which are classified as Government Poramboke land. However, while laying pipeline, respondents 3 to 5 objected for the same. Therefore, the petitioner lodged complaint seeking police protection while laying pipeline. 3. The learned counsel for respondents 3 to 5 submitted that the petitioner is not drawing water through pipeline for irrigation of any agricultural land and he has intended to draw water through pipeline for his sago factory. Therefore, it would affect the entire agricultural field. 4. However, it is seen that though respondents 3 to 5 challenged the order of permission dated 23.02.2026 granted by the Tahsildar, Athur, the same is pending for adjudication without any interim order. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP.Crl.No.566 of 2026 5. In view of the above, the second respondent is directed to provide adequate police protection to the petitioner while laying underground pipeline through the land comprised in survey numbers which are classified as Government Poramboke land as per the order of permission of the Tahsildar, Athur dated 23.02.2026, within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order. It is made clear that laying of pipeline shall be subject to the result of the writ petition filed by respondents 3 to 5. 6. With the above directions, this writ petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. 14.07.2026 Index : Yes/No Neutral citation : Yes/No Speaking/non-speaking order lok https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP.Crl.No.566 of 2026 To 1.The District Superintendent of Police, Salem District, Salem. 2.The Inspector of Police, Athur Police Station, Athur, Salem District. 3.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP.Crl.No.566 of 2026 G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J. lok WP . Crl. No. 566 of 202 6 14.07.2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis