T.MURUGAN vs THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT

Court
Madras High Court

W.P.No.44654 of 2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 04.11.2026
CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR. SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI,
CHIEF JUSTICE
AND
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN
W.P.No.44654 of 2026
CNR:{HCMA012524792026}
T.Murugan
S/o.Thanigachalam
No.1/40, Pillayar Koil Street
Senjipudhur, Muttathur Post
Villupuram District 605 203.
Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. The Secretary to Government
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj
Department, Fort St. George
Chennai 600 009.
2. The Director Of Rural Development &
Panchayat Raj
Chennai.
3. The District Collector
Villupuram District
Villupuram.
Respondent(s)
Prayer : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India
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W.P.No.44654 of 2026
seeking a writ of Mandamus directing respondents to take necessary
and appropriate steps to construct the office building of the newly
formed Kanjanur Panchayat Union at the site already identified in
S.F.Nos.218/1 and 218/2, Narasinganur Village, Vikravandi Taluk,
Villupuramm District, measuring an extent of 0.84 Ares.
For Petitioner(s): Mr.E.P.Senniyangiri
For Respondent(s): Mr.M.Guruprasad
State Government Pleader
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by
G.Arul Murugan, J)
The writ petition has been filed seeking a direction to
respondents to take appropriate steps to construct the office building
in newly formed Kanjanur Panchayat Union at the site already
identified in S.No.218/1 and 218/2, Narasinganur Village, Vikravandi
Taluk, Villupuram District, in an extent of 0.84 ares.
2. Learned counsel for petitioner contended that by G.O.Ms.No.58
dated 27.02.2026, a new Panchayat Union, viz. Kanjanur Panchayat
Union, was carved out and newly formed, comprising 37 village
Panchayats from the existing Kaanai Panchayat Union and Vikravandi
Panchayat Union. After the new Panchayat Union was formed, the
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W.P.No.44654 of 2026
authorities intended to proceed with construction of a Panchayat Union
office and, in this regard, land comprising 0.84 ares in S.F.No.218/1 and
218/2 was identified. However, the authorities are intending to change
the location and, therefore, petitioner had come up with the present
writ petition mainly on the ground that the land in S.F.Nos.218/1 and
218/2 is easily accessible than any other place.
3. Learned State Government Pleader, placing on record the
written instructions from the Block Development Officer dated
04.11.2026, submitted that even though in the earlier inspection
conducted, the land in SF Nos.218/1 and 218/2 of Narasinganur Village
of an extent of 0.84 ares was identified, considering all the
requirements and future expansions, the authorities require a
minimum of 1.50 acres for the construction of Panchayat Union
complex.
4. Learned State Government Pleader further submitted that the
land earlier identified is not available, as assignment was granted in
favour of one Ananda Kumar on 22.10.2018. Since mutation was not
effected, the said Ananda Kumar has approached this Court in
W.P.No.37371 of 2026 seeking mutation of revenue records and the
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W.P.No.44654 of 2026
same was disposed of on 24.09.2026. The authorities, finding that the
land identified earlier may not be suitable and not readily available for
construction, have identified a different land in S.F.Nos.292/1 and
292/2 at Kanjanur–Elusempon Road, Kanjanur Village, comprising 2.10
acres and, therefore, any interference, at this stage, would stall the
construction work to be undertaken.
5. Heard learned counsel for petitioner and learned State
Government Pleader for respondents.
6. It is true that the Government, by G.O.Ms.No.58 dated
27.02.2026, issued orders for creation of Kanjanur Panchayat Union
comprising 37 village Panchayats. Though the authorities intended to
proceed with the construction of Panchayat Union building and in the
inspection conducted, land was identified, later, it was found that the
land in S.F.Nos.218/1 and 218/2 of Narsinganur Village, comprising 0.84
acres, is not available, as the Government had issued assignment in
favour of one Ananda Kumar on 22.10.2018.
7. Though assignment was granted, since the mutation was not
effected, the said Ananda Kumar has approached this Court seeking
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W.P.No.44654 of 2026
mutation of revenue records in his favour and this Court, by order
dated 24.09.2026, directed the authorities to consider the
representations of Ananda Kumar with regard to mutation and dispose
of the same within a time period.
8. From the written instructions submitted, it is to be noted that
the authorities require a minimum extent of 1.50 acres for the
construction of the Panchayat Union office, so as to provide facilities
for parking, education, agricultural department buildings and also
future expansions. The land identified earlier was only 0.84 ares and it
was also assigned in favour of one private person. Therefore, a fresh
inspection was conducted on 05.10.2026 by the Tahsildar, Block
Development Officer, Assistant Director (Panchayats), Executive
Engineer (RD) and Revenue Divisional Officer, Villupuram, wherein land
in S.F.Nos.292/1 and 292/2 at Kanjanur Village, comprising an extent of
2.10 acres, classified as government poramboke, was found suitable
for construction of the Panchayat Union building.
9. The authorities have listed out the parameters that were
considered while identifying the new site for construction. It is stated
that the Government is proposing to construct the office building within
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W.P.No.44654 of 2026
the current financial year of 2026-2027 once they receive appropriate
orders from the Tahsildar, Vikravandi.
10. In view of the stand taken above and also finding that the
land identified earlier is not suitable and already a new land has been
identified, we see no merits in the writ petition. Accordingly, the writ
petition is dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs.
(SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI,CJ) (G.ARUL MURUGAN,J)
04.11.2026
Index : Yes/No
Neutral Citation : Yes/No
kpl
To
1. The Secretary to Government
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj
Department, Fort St. George
Chennai 600 009.
2. The Director Of Rural Development &
Panchayat Raj
Chennai.
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W.P.No.44654 of 2026
3. The District Collector
Villupuram District
Villupuram.
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W.P.No.44654 of 2026
THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE
AND
G.ARUL MURUGAN,J.
(kpl)
W.P.No.44654 of 2026

04.11.2026
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