2026:MHC:865 CONT P No. 3797 of 2025 __________ Page1 of 9 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 20-02-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S. M. SUBRAMANIAM CONT P No. 3797 of 2025 S.Deivasigamani ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. Mr. Mangat Ram Sharma The Principal Secretary to Government, Public Works Department, The Secretariat, St. George Fort, Chennai - 600 009 2. Mr. Radhakrishnan, Chairman cum Managing Director, TANGEDCO, 6th Floor, TANTRANSCO Building, No. 144, Anna Salai, Chennai -600 002. 3. Mr. P.N.Sridhar, Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, No. 119, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Chennai -600 034. 4. Mr. S.Manivannan, Engineer-In-Chief, (Water Resources and Organization), and Chief Engineer (General), Public Works Department, Chepauk -600 005. 5. Mr. S.Kandasamy, District Collector, The District Collectorate, Erode. 6. Mr. Dhanapal, Chief Engineer, Water Resources and Organization and https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CONT P No. 3797 of 2025 __________ Page2 of 9 Public Works Department, Town Hall, Coimbatore. 7. Mr. S.Santhakumar, District Revenue Officer, Office of the District Revenue Office, Erode District. 8. Mr. Chinnasamy, The Superintering Engineer, TANGEDCO, EDC/ Gobi, Tiruppur Road, Vettaikarankovil, Nagadevanpalayam Post, Gobichettipalayam, Erode District - 638 476. 9. Mr. Sivanadham, Revenue Divisional Officer, Office of the Revenue Divisional Officer, Gobichettipalayam, Erode District. 10.Mr. Selvaraj, Divisional Engineer, Department of Highways, Office of the Divisional Engineer, Moolapalayam, Erode District - 638 002. 11.Mr. Sugumar, Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Erode Zone, Erode. 12.Mr. Kulasekara pandiyan, Executive Engineer, TANGEDCO, Gobichettipalayam, EDC/Gobi, Erode District. 13.Mrs. N.Maheshwari, Inspector of Police, Economic Offences Wing, State Bank Road, Erode District. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CONT P No. 3797 of 2025 __________ Page3 of 9 14.Mr. Sundaramoorthy, Assistant Divisional Engineer, Highways Department, (Construction and Maintenance) Bhavani, Erode District. 15.Mr. A.Satheeshkumar, Assistant Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Anthiyur, Erode District. 16.Mr. Illanchellaiyan, Tahsildhar, Anthiyur Taluk, Erode District. 17.Mr. Saravanan, Block Development Officer, Block Development Office, Anthiyur Taluk, Thavuttupalayam, Anthiyur, Erode District. 18.Mr. Arulalagan, Executive Engineer, Bhavanisagar Damn Division, Bhavani - 638 451. 19.Mr. Prasana, Assistant Executive Engineer, Water Resources and Organization and Public Works Department, Bhavani Division, Bhavani 638 301. ..Contemnor(s) Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 to punish the respondents for the willful disobedience of the order dated 26.04.2024 in W.P.No. 24432 of 2023. For Petitioner(s): Mr. D.Nandhagopal, M.Mohammed Dharwish, M.Saielsh https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CONT P No. 3797 of 2025 __________ Page4 of 9 For Contemnor(s): Mr.K.Suresh Govt Advocate For R1,R4,R5 To R7,R9,R10 And R14 To R19 ORDER The present contempt petition has been instituted to punish the respondent for their willful disobedience of the order passed by this Court dated 26.04.2024 in W.P.No. 24432 of 2023. 2. Pursuant to the orders of this Court, the Assistant Executive Engineer, Water Resources Department, Bhavani Sub-division communicated a letter to the Sub-Collector, Gobichetipalayam, Erode District. 3. Letter would show that inspection was conducted. All standard provable methods normally adopted to deduct the illegal river tapping was applied including physical tracing of pipelines from the river bank, physical verification of foot valves, suction pipes or concealed pumping arrangements and physical verification of riverbed disturbances, pits or sand movement were also carried out. Upon applying the above recognized methods, no pipeline, suction arrangement or physical connectivity to the river was found and no evidence of tampering or unauthorized extraction of water was observed. However, the report further states that in the land of Thiru.K.K.Sreerangam, the four weels have been dug along with the stretch adjoining the above mentioned well and these wells are not used for any irrigation purpose. The https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CONT P No. 3797 of 2025 __________ Page5 of 9 verification reveals that Electricity Department has not provided EB service connections for operating any of the said wells. Hence, NOC is not necessary from the water resources department. During inspection, there also arose a technical suspicion that these wells may be interlinked. Considering the possibility of interlinkage, it is suggested that these four wells located in the same stretch may be considered for closure. 4. In view of the said report, the Sub-Collector has to initiate appropriate action, if necessary to close the unused well and must ensure that these unused wells are not utilized for extraction of river water illegally. At the outset, the respondents must ensure that the illegal extraction of water has been curbed, and in the event of identifying illegal extraction of water, all persons concerned must be prosecuted under relevant criminal law. However, in the present case, the authorities have conducted field inspection and Assistant Executive Engineer, submitted a letter to the Sub-Collector. In view of the said factum, the contempt petition stands closed. No costs. 20-02-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No GD To 1. Mr. Mangat Ram Sharma and 18 others The Principal Secretary to Government, Public Works Department, The Secretariat, St. George Fort, https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CONT P No. 3797 of 2025 __________ Page6 of 9 Chennai - 600 009. 2. Mr. Radhakrishnan, Chairman cum Managing Director, TANGEDCO, 6th Floor, TANTRANSCO Building, No. 144, Anna Salai, Chennai -600 002. 3. Mr. P.N.Sridhar, Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, No. 119, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Chennai -600 034. 4. Mr. S.Manivannan, Engineer-In-Chief, (Water Resources and Organization), and Chief Engineer (General), Public Works Department, Chepauk -600 005. 5. Mr. S.Kandasamy, District Collector, The District Collectorate, Erode. 6. Mr. Dhanapal, Chief Engineer, Water Resources and Organization and Public Works Department, Town Hall, Coimbatore. 7. Mr. S.Santhakumar, District Revenue Officer, Office of the District Revenue Office, Erode District. 8. Mr. Chinnasamy, The Superintering Engineer, TANGEDCO, EDC/ Gobi, Tiruppur Road, Vettaikarankovil, Nagadevanpalayam Post, Gobichettipalayam, Erode District - 638 476. 9. Mr. Sivanadham, Revenue Divisional Officer, Office of the Revenue Divisional Officer, https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CONT P No. 3797 of 2025 __________ Page7 of 9 Gobichettipalayam, Erode District. 10.Mr. Selvaraj, Divisional Engineer, Department of Highways, Office of the Divisional Engineer, Moolapalayam, Erode District - 638 002. 11.Mr. Sugumar, Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Erode Zone, Erode. 12.Mr. Kulasekara pandiyan, Executive Engineer, TANGEDCO, Gobichettipalayam, EDC/Gobi, Erode District. 13.Mrs. N.Maheshwari, Inspector of Police, Economic Offences Wing, State Bank Road, Erode District. 14.Mr. Sundaramoorthy, Assistant Divisional Engineer, Highways Department, (Construction and Maintenance) Bhavani, Erode District. 15.Mr. A.Satheeshkumar, Assistant Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Anthiyur, Erode District. 16.Mr. Illanchellaiyan, Tahsildhar, Anthiyur Taluk, Erode District. 17.Mr. Saravanan, https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CONT P No. 3797 of 2025 __________ Page8 of 9 Block Development Officer, Block Development Office, Anthiyur Taluk, Thavuttupalayam, Anthiyur, Erode District. 18.Mr. Arulalagan, Executive Engineer, Bhavanisagar Damn Division, Bhavani - 638 451. 19.Mr. Prasana, Assistant Executive Engineer, Water Resources and Organization and Public Works Department, Bhavani Division, Bhavani 638 301. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CONT P No. 3797 of 2025 __________ Page9 of 9 S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J. GD CONT P No. 3797 of 2025 20-02-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis