Madras HC Gives Udhagamandalam Petitioner 3 Months To Restore Building To Approved Plan, Directs Demolition If He Fails

The petitioner challenged a lock-and-seal notice dated 13 May 2026 issued by the Udhagamandalam Municipality and sought removal of the seal so that he could rectify deviations in the premises.

He had also filed an appeal against the notice, which was pending.

Before the High Court, the petitioner expressed willingness to rectify the deviations within four months.

The Court stated that, where a lock-and-seal notice is issued under the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, an appeal lies under Section 80-A of that Act.

A writ petition filed without exhausting the statutory remedy is not entertainable; here, the petitioner’s appeal was already pending.

Because the petitioner had invoked the statutory appellate remedy and that appeal remained pending, the Court declined to entertain the writ challenge to the notice.

Separately, taking account of the petitioner’s willingness to rectify the deviations, the Court granted time to comply, but fixed a period of three months—not the four months sought—requiring demolition of the unauthorised construction and restoration of the building in accordance with the permission granted by the competent authorities.

If the petitioner failed to do so, the respondent could take enforcement action, demolish the unauthorised construction or deviations, and recover the cost from the petitioner under the Act.

No costs were ordered.