Madras HC Closes Contempt Case Over Odai-Land Burials After Officials Identify Alternative Site, With Liberty To Reopen

The petitioner filed a contempt petition under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, alleging wilful disobedience of directions in W.P. No. 22222 of 2025, which prohibited using land classified as an “Odai” in S.F. No. 197, Kuppandampalayam Village, as a burial ground

The Tahsildar reported that officials had advised the public not to bury bodies there, a separate burial site had been identified in R.S. No. 245/2, and a caution board had been erected at the disputed site

The petitioner had also filed W.P. No. 27968 of 2026 concerning subsequent burials; that writ petition was pending before a Single Judge

The petition invoked Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, which empowers the High Court to punish contempt of court.

The underlying order required that land classified as an “Odai” in the revenue records not be used as a burial ground

The Court cited no precedent and did not elaborate a separate test for wilful disobedience; its disposition turned on the authorities’ reported steps to implement the underlying direction

The Court considered the Tahsildar’s report that officials had warned the public against burying bodies on the “Odai” land, that an alternative site had been designated as a burial ground, and that a caution board had been installed

It also noted that the petitioner’s complaint about later burials was the subject of a separate pending writ petition

On the basis of the reported measures, the Court closed the contempt petition while preserving the petitioner’s ability to seek its reopening if necessary

It granted the petitioner liberty to seek reopening of the contempt petition if the need arose