Authorities must remove identified encroachments under statutory procedure within eight weeks.

The petitioner sought a direction requiring the revenue and Public Works Department authorities to consider his representation dated 16 March 2026 for removal of an alleged encroachment by the fourth respondent in a stream in Survey No.23/2, D-Perumapalayam Village, Salem Taluk

The State submitted that encroachments had been identified, a notice under Section 7 of the Tamil Nadu Land Encroachment Act, 1905 had been issued, and, after an opportunity of hearing, a notice under Section 6 had also been issued

Whether, following issuance of a notice under Section 6 of the Tamil Nadu Land Encroachment Act, 1905, the competent authorities were required to proceed with removal of the identified encroachment in accordance with the Act and Rules

Whether the Court should direct the authorities to complete that exercise within a specified period

Section 7 of the Tamil Nadu Land Encroachment Act, 1905 provides for notice in the encroachment-removal process, and Section 6 provides for further action after the prescribed process, including an opportunity of hearing.

The Court held that, once the final notice under Section 6 had been issued, the competent authorities were bound to remove the encroachments by following the procedures prescribed under the relevant provisions of the Act and Rules

The authorities’ submission that notices under Sections 7 and 6 had been issued established that the statutory process had progressed to the final-notice stage

The Court therefore considered the authorities bound to carry the process through and remove the encroachments in accordance with the Act and Rules; it directed completion of the exercise within eight weeks from receipt of a copy of the order

No costs were awarded