In a significant development in the ongoing land dispute between the Madras Race Club (MRC) and the Tamil Nadu government, the Madras High Court has directed both parties to maintain the status quo as of July 4, 2025, over the contentious Guindy property. The court also restrained the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Development Agency from proceeding further with any third-party involvement, even though it allowed the agency to receive tender documents related to the land.
Justice K. Kumaresh Babu issued the interim order while hearing Original Applications (OA Nos. 401 & 402 of 2025) and related ancillary petitions in Civil Suit No. 81 of 2025. The matter was taken up urgently due to an impending tender scheduled for July 7, 2025.
The MRC, represented by its Secretary S. Nirmal Prasad, argued that it was still in possession of the land in Guindy. However, the state government — represented by its Principal Secretary (Revenue & Disaster Management Department) — contested this claim, stating that possession had been taken over as early as September 9, 2024. The government further asserted that the land had already been developed, including the digging of ponds to prevent waterlogging during the 2024 North East Monsoon.
Given the conflicting claims, the court observed that it would determine the issue of possession during the subsequent hearing but, in the interim, directed that both sides maintain status quo. It also directed the Horticulture Department not to create any third-party interests until the matter is resolved.
Senior counsel and DMK MP P. Wilson represented the state while Mr. Guru Krishnakumar senior counsel for advocates Vaibhav Venkatesh and Nithyaesh Natraj appeared for the respondents. The court scheduled the next hearing for July 16, 2025, and directed the plaintiff to file a counter in the meantime.
The dispute is being closely watched due to the prime location and public interest surrounding the usage of the land, historically associated with the Madras Race Club for over a century.
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