The Madras High Court has directed revenue authorities in Krishnagiri District to proceed with enforcement action and remove encroachments on government land classified as “J.F. Road Batta” in Mukkandapalli Village, Hosur Taluk, following a status report filed by the Tahsildar.
A division bench comprising Justice S.M. Subramaniam and Justice R. Rajesh Vivekananthan was hearing a writ petition (WP No. 213 of 2023) filed by Santhakumar, described in the status report as joint secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of Tamil Nadu unit, seeking a mandamus to demolish an “illegal church / super structure” allegedly built without statutory approval on survey number 370/1.
According to the Tahsildar’s status report recorded by the court on 12 June 2026, the land in S.No.370/1, measuring 2.16.00 hectares in Mookondapalli village, has been classified as “J.F. Road Batta” in revenue records. “‘Battai’ literally denotes path or road. The said road starts from Dharga Muthumariyamman kovil and ends at Titan Jewellery in Mookondapalli village,” the report stated.
The report identified multiple encroachments on the land: a Christian church on 27 cents; the Om Sakthi temple, Sai Baba temple and Shiva Temple on 10 cents; Sivaranjani Hotel, a park and Vinayagar temple on 90 cents; an Anjaneya Temple on 2 cents; houses on 2 cents; concrete shops on 2 cents; temporary encroachments such as petty shops and temporary hotels; and First Step Baby Wear Private Ltd on 7 cents.
The report noted that construction of the church had been stopped and that “a church building is in existence” on the land where prayer is being conducted. It further stated: “It is submitted that there are 7 encroachments in the said land. Immediate eviction of the encroachments will create law and order problem in the area. Hence a go slow policy has been taken in the matter. However, this Respondent will obey and implement the order of the High court.”
The government pleader submitted that show cause notices under Section 7 of the Land Encroachment Act had been issued to the encroachers, affording them an opportunity to submit explanations, after which final notice under Section 6 would be issued and enforcement actions executed.
Counsel for the 14th respondent, Adhiruban, Pastor of St. Joseph’s Church (impleaded in the proceedings), argued that the petitioner was “targeting the 14th respondent alone knowing the fact that there are other encroachments” and submitted that objections should be raised against all encroachments.
The court observed that it could not form an opinion regarding the entire encroachments in the present writ petition and that it was necessary to consider those identified by the Tahsildar in the status report. It granted liberty to the 14th respondent or any other person to file a complaint with the competent authority regarding other encroachments, directing that appropriate action be taken in the manner known to law.
“This being the factum, the official respondents are directed to proceed with the enforcement action by following the procedures as contemplated under the relevant Statutes and Rules in force and remove the encroachments, and allow the government land to be utilised for public purpose,” the bench ordered.
The writ petition was disposed of with no costs, and connected miscellaneous petitions were closed.
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