G.Arulselvan vs Ministry of Power Government of India

WP(MD) No. 30613 of 2026
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 28-10-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI
WP(MD) No. 30613 of 2026
CNR:{HCMD011499082026}
and W.M.P(MD)Nos.23365, 23366 & 23368 of 2026
G.Arulselvan
..Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. Ministry of Power Government of India
Represented through its Secretary,
Shram Shakti Bhawan,
Rafi Marg,
New Delhi-1
2. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited
Represented through its Chairman/ Managing
Director,
16th Floor,
Centre - I,
World Trade Centre,
Cuffe Parade,
Colaba,
Mumbai - 400 005.
3. POWERGRID Kudankulam Transmission
Limited,
represented through its Managing Director,
Kudankulam,
Tuticorin District.
4. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
(POWERGRID),
represented through its Regional Executive
Director(SR-II),
South Region - II Headquarters,
No.7,
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WP(MD) No. 30613 of 2026
KHM Block,
R.K.Puram,
Sector - 1,
Bengaluru - 560 066.
5. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
(POWERGRID),
represented through its Senior General Manager,
South Regional Transmission System-II,
Head Quarters,
Near RTO Driving Test Track,
Sinhanayakanahalli,
Yelahanka Hobli,
Bangalore - 560 064, Karnataka.
6. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
(POWERGRID),
represented through its Chief General Manager
/Regional Head,
Southern Region - Tamilnadu,
No.2, Race Course Cross Road,
Guindy, Chennai - 600 032
7. Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution
Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO),
Represented through its Chairman Director,
144, Anna Salai,
Chennai - 600 002.
8. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
(POWERGRID),
Represented through its Deputy General
Manager/ Site In-Charge,
400/230 KV Substation Campus,
Near SIPCOT Industrial Area,
Thoothukudi - 628 008.
9. The District Collector,
Collectorate,
Korampollam,
Tuticorin - 628 101.
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WP(MD) No. 30613 of 2026
10.The Superintendent Engineer,
TANGEDCO,
Tuticorin District,
Tuticorin.
11.The District Revenue Officer,
Office of the District Revenue Officer,
Tuticorin District,
Tuticorin.
12.The Revenue Divisional Officer,
Collectorate,
Korampollam,
Tuticorin - 628 101.
..Respondent(s)
PRAYER: Writ Petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of
India, praying this court to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to
th
call for the records of the 9 respondent's Impugned Order in
Na.Ka.C5/3500796/2025/953365 dated 15.06.2026 and quash the same as
devoid of merits and directing the respondents to proceed the installation
of Tower and High Voltage Power Line to eastern side dry lands (Green
Line in the Rough Sketch) of Survey No.l296/2B, 1305/2B, 1308/1,
Survey No.1305/1, 1305/2A, 1307/1 in Singathakurichi Revenue Village,
Srivaikuntam Revenue Sub District, Tuticorin Revenue District, within
the period as stipulated by this Court.
For Petitioner(s) :M/r.Haja Mohideen A
For Respondent(s) :Mr.S.Muthukumar
Central Government Standing
Counsel For R1
Mr.J.Senthil Kumaraiah
Standing Counsel For R7 & R10
Mr.AR.L.Sundaresan
Assistant Solicitor General
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WP(MD) No. 30613 of 2026
for Mr.S.Karthick Ramkumar
For R8
Mr.T.Thirumurugan
Special Government Pleader
For R9, R11 & R12
ORDER
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Challenging the 9 respondent's Impugned Order in
Na.Ka.C5/3500796/2025/953365 dated 15.06.2026 and directing the
respondents to proceed the installation of Tower and High Voltage Power
Line to eastern side dry lands (Green Line in the Rough Sketch) of
Survey No.l296/2B, 1305/2B, 1308/1, Survey No.1305/1, 1305/2A,
1307/1 in Singathakurichi Revenue Village, Srivaikuntam Revenue Sub
District, Tuticorin Revenue District, this writ petition is filed.
2. The petitioner is an agriculturalist who had purchased the subject
land in Survey Nos.1296/2A, l296/2B, 1305/2B, 1308/1, 1315/1 in
Singathakurichi Revenue Village, Srivaikuntam Revenue Sub District,
Tuticorin Revenue District vide sale deed dated 10.02.2025. He had
planted coconut saplings to create coconut groove and is also planning to
cultivate cross crops. Adjacent to his land is the land of his sibling,
Mrs.M.Valliyammal's husband Mr.Murugan and he is also doing
cultivation.
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WP(MD) No. 30613 of 2026
3. To the shock of the petitioner, he came to understand, as per the
scheme of the Central Government, the High Voltage Power Lines are
about to be installed for the 400 KV D/C (Quad) KNPP Units 3 & 4 in
Kudankulam nuclear station, which are likely to be erected in the areas of
Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi Districts. It is also found that the
preliminary survey has been conducted as to the installation of towers and
the route through which the power lines are to be laid. It is informed that
the lands in the east of the petitioner's property has also been identified
by the Government in this regard. Pointing out that a public hearing was
not conducted in this regard before implementing the said project, the
learned counsel for the petitioner sought for the indulgence of this Court
by appointment of Commissioner to find out a feasible alternate electric
route, through which the ongoing project could be carried out and sought
the indulgence of this Court
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4. The learned Assistant Solicitor General appearing for the 8
respondent submitted that a feasibility study was conducted as long
before for more than five years, and the project has already been
finalized, and, as on date, no electric line or high voltage towers are
installed or drawn across the petitioner's property. However, in future, if
the petitioner's property is utilized for the said project, Sections 10 and 16
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WP(MD) No. 30613 of 2026
of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 would be available to him and
appropriate compensation would also be granted to the petitioner and
sought for dismissal of the petition, citing that the project is of national
importance.
5. The learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the
respondents 9, 11 and 12 submitted that a careful reading of the
impugned order itself would prove that, as on date, no electric line or
high voltage tower has been installed in the petitioner's land. However, in
future, if the petitioner's land is utilised for the said project, it is
permissible in terms of Section 10 of Indian Telegraph Act,1885 by
exercise of the powers conferred by Section 10 for the District Collector,
to resolve the dispute with respect to grant of compensation to all those
landowners whose land is likely to be utilised. If at all the petitioner has
any qualms or quarrel over the same, it is for him to approach the
competent jurisdictional District Judge for the determination of
appropriate compensation.
6. Heard the learned counsels on either side and carefully perused
the materials available on record.
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WP(MD) No. 30613 of 2026
7. Several writ petitions in similar lines have already been dealt
with by this Court, more particularly in the case of L.Mangalam Vs. The
1
District Collector, Tirunelveli District & Others , I had passed an order.
Accordingly, the petitioner is directed to give a fresh representation to the
th th
9 respondent. On receipt of the same, the 9 respondent is directed to
take necessary steps to consider the petitioner's representation and
dispose the same in terms of Section 16 of the Indian Telegraph Act,
1885 within a period of four(4) weeks thereafter. It is made clear that
there is no bar for the respondents to continue the project.
8. With such directions, this Writ Petition stands disposed of. No
costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.
28-10-2026
Index: Yes/No
Speaking/Non-speaking order
Neutral Citation: Yes/No
gbg
1
W.P(MD)No.24051 of 2026 dated 16.09.2026
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WP(MD) No. 30613 of 2026
To
1. Ministry of Power Government of India
Represented through its Secretary
Shram Shakti Bhawan
Rafi Marg
New Delhi-1
2. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited
Represented through its Chairman/ Managing Director
16th Floor
Centre - I
World Trade Centre
Cuffe Parade
Colaba
Mumbai - 400 005
3. POWERGRID Kudankulam Transmission Limited
represented through its Managing Director
Kudankulam
Tuticorin District
4. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID)
represented through its Regional Executive Director(SR-II)
South Region - II Headquarters
No.7
KHM Block
R.K.Puram
Sector - 1
Bengaluru - 560 066
5. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID)
represented through its Senior General Manager
South Regional Transmission System-II
Head Quarters
Near RTO Driving Test Track
Sinhanayakanahalli
Yelahanka Hobli
Bangalore - 560 064
6. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID)
represented through its Chief General Manager /Regional Head
Southern Region - Tamilnadu
No.2
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WP(MD) No. 30613 of 2026
Race Course Cross Road
Guindy
Chennai - 600 032
7. Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited
(TANGEDCO)
Represented through its Chairman Director
144
Anna Salai
Chennai - 600 002
8. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID)
Represented through its Deputy General Manager/ Site In-Charge
400/230 KV Substation Campus
Near SIPCOT Industrial Area
Thoothukudi - 628 008
9. The District Collector
Collectorate
Korampollam
Tuticorin - 628 101
10.The Superintendent Engineer
TANGEDCO
Tuticorin District
Tuticorin
11.The District Revenue Officer
Office of the District Revenue Officer
Tuticorin District
Tuticorin
12.The Revenue Divisional Officer
Collectorate
Korampollam
Tuticorin - 628 101
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WP(MD) No. 30613 of 2026
L.VICTORIA GOWRI, J.
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WP(MD) No. 30613 of 2026
28-10-2026
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