Corporation Must Complete Enforcement Against Unauthorized Construction Within Twelve Weeks

The petitioner sought a direction requiring the authorities to take action against allegedly unauthorised construction at Plot Nos. 8, 9 and 10 in Puzhal village.

Respondents 4 to 6 had filed a statutory appeal under Section 80-A of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act.

The Government disposed of that appeal on 25 September 2026, vacated the interim stay, and directed the Greater Chennai Corporation to pursue further action under the Act.

Whether disposal of the appeal under Section 80-A and vacation of the interim stay left any impediment to the Greater Chennai Corporation taking enforcement action against the subject building.

Whether the Corporation should be directed to commence and complete that enforcement action within a specified period.

The Court applied the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, including its enforcement provisions and the appeal mechanism under Section 80-A.

It held that, once the statutory appeal had been disposed of and the interim stay vacated, enforcement action could proceed in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Act.

The petition also invoked the Madras City Municipal Act, but the order’s directions were based on the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act.

The Government’s disposal of the Section 80-A appeal and vacation of the interim stay removed the stated impediment to further enforcement.

The Court therefore directed the Greater Chennai Corporation to proceed under the statutory procedures and complete the enforcement action within twelve weeks from receipt of a copy of the order.

The writ petition was disposed of with those directions, without costs.