The Madras High Court on Monday, 10 November 2025, directed senior district and municipal officials to appear before it after noting conflicting claims over who controls the land surrounding Kamaraj Government General Hospital in Chidambaram, where 56 encroachments have been identified.
The First Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan issued the direction while hearing WP No 14027 of 2024, a public interest litigation filed by Subramanian, a senior citizen from Pallipadai in Cuddalore district. The petitioner sought a mandamus directing authorities to remove illegal encroachments on government land earmarked for hospital expansion and to restore the property to the hospital administration.
Represented by counsel B Jagannath, the petitioner argued that the encroachments around the hospital have prevented construction of essential infrastructure, including ICU facilities and additional blocks, resulting in severe space constraints. He contended that removing these structures would allow expansion crucial for treating thousands of patients, especially poor families who depend on the government hospital.
Jagannath referred to documents in the case record asserting that the land in Survey Nos. TS 1123 and 1124/1 belonged to the government and was intended for hospital development. He said the hospital’s doctors were already delivering commendable service and expansion would significantly improve access to critical care.
Opposing the petition, State Government Pleader A. Edwin Prabhakar informed the court that 56 encroachments had been identified during a spot inspection by the Tahsildar on 6 June 2024. He said the municipality was collecting tax from these encroachers, complicating proceedings. Since the land was under municipal control, he said the report had been forwarded to the Chidambaram Municipality for action.
However, counsel for the municipality, P. Srinivas, maintained that the encroachments were located on government land, making it the state’s responsibility to remove them. The disagreement prompted the court to intervene.
Noting the dispute over jurisdiction, the Bench directed the District Collector of Cuddalore, the Chief Medical Officer of Kamaraj Government Hospital, and the Commissioner of Chidambaram Municipality to appear in person at the next hearing with all relevant records.
The case has been posted for 18 November 2025.
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