Madras HC Orders Police Protection For Indus Towers’ Tower Work At 7 Sites, With ₹20,000 Cost And Cover Ending After Installation

Indus Towers Limited filed four writ petitions under Article 226 seeking police protection to carry out mobile-tower installation work at identified sites in Vellore, Kancheepuram, Cuddalore and Puducherry.

The petitions relied on representations made to the relevant police authorities and, in one instance, a community service register entry.

The Court noted that the issue was covered by its earlier order in M/s. Indus Towers Limited v. The District Collector, Thiruvarur, W.P. No. 20330 of 2023, dated 11 July 2023.

The petitions invoked the High Court’s jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution to seek a writ of mandamus.

The Court applied the approach in M/s. Indus Towers Limited v. The District Collector, Thiruvarur, W.P. No. 20330 of 2023, dated 11 July 2023, which it held covered the issue; under that approach, police protection could be provided to facilitate mobile-tower installation subject to payment of ₹20,000, with protection withdrawn once installation was completed.

The Court treated the dispute in all four petitions as governed by its earlier order concerning Indus Towers’ request for protection during tower installation.

It therefore directed the respondent police to provide protection for the works, subject to the stated payment, and limited the protection to the period required for installation.

All four writ petitions were disposed of with no order as to costs.