Madras High Court
Saveetha Medical And Educational Trust vs The Chief Engineer on 24 November, 2025
Author: M.Dhandapani
Bench: M. Dhandapani
W.P.No.38816 of 2025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 24.11.2025
CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M. DHANDAPANI
W.P.No.38816 of 2025
and
W.M.P.Nos.43432, 43433, 45586 to 45589 of 2025
Saveetha Medical and Educational Trust,
Represented by its President,
Dr.N.M.Veeraiyan,
Saveetha Nagar, Thandalam,
Kancheepuram District – 602 105. ... Petitioner
Vs.
1.The Chief Engineer,
Water Resources Department,
Public Works Department,
Chennai Region, Chepauk,
Chennai – 600 005.
2.The Executive Engineer,
Water Resources Department,
Krishna Water Supply Project Division-1,
Public Works Department,
Chepauk, Chennai – 600 005.
3.The Executive Engineer,
Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board,
No.1, Pumping Station Road, Chintadripet,
Chennai.
[R3 suo motu impleaded vide order dt. 22.10.2025
made in W.P.No.38816 of 2025] ... Respondents
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W.P.No.38816 of 2025
Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India
for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents herein to
remove the mud barrier, culvert, bund and such other barriers/restrictions
that has completely or partially restricted the flow of water from the
petitioner's premises to Krishna Water Canal and consequentially de-
flood the premises of the petitioner completely so as to enable the
petitioner to perform its functions without any hindrances.
For Petitioner : Mr.Vikram Veerasamy
For Respondents : Mr.P.S.Raman
Advocate General
Assisted by Mr.M.Rajendiran
Additional Government Pleader
*****
ORDER
This Writ Petition has been filed seeking a direction upon the respondents to remove the mud barrier, culvert, bund and such other barriers/restrictions that has completely or partially restricted the flow of water from the petitioner's premises to Krishna Water Canal and consequentially de-flood the premises of the petitioner completely so as to enable the petitioner to perform its functions without any hindrances.
2. The petitioner, Saveetha Medical and Education Trust is running Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, a deemed Page No.2 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 05/01/2026 08:51:04 pm ) W.P.No.38816 of 2025 to be university, and the campus houses Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha College of Nursing and Saveetha School of Engineering and other institutions catering to over 20,000 students, 6,000 faculty members and nearly 5,000 patients every day. The entire campus is situated near Chembarambakkam Lake and adjacent to the Krishna Water Channel, which runs along the eastern boundary of the property. The petitioner has, at its own costs, developed an internal stromwater drainage system to collect and convey rainwater from the campus to the culvert constructed by the Public Works Department outside the compound wall, which in turn drains into Chembarambakkam Lake. However, recently, the respondents did not permit the petitioner to drain the stromwater in the Chembarambakkam late. In the present rainy season, the petitioner is facing unpleasant situation due to stagnation of water. Therefore, the petitioner has filed this writ petition before this Court.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that due to the interference of this Court, now, the entire problem is temporarily solved.
In order to give permanent solution to drain the water stored in the Page No.3 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 05/01/2026 08:51:04 pm ) W.P.No.38816 of 2025 petitioner’s campus, an expert team has to be formed to give advice to the petitioner as well as the Governmental organization. In this regard, he has suggested three names as follows :-
(i) Dr.B.Ramesh, Simats Engineering, Saveetha University, Chennai.
(ii) Mr.D.Rajasekar, Environmental Engineer, Exnora.
(iii) Dr.P.Purushotaman, SRM University, Chennai.
4. In response, learned Advocate General appearing for the respondents has also suggested three names as follows :-
(i) Prof.D.Thirumalaivasan, Institute for Remote Sensing College of Engineering, Anna University, Guindy, Chennai – 600 025.
(ii) Prof.K.Srinivasa Raju, Institute for Remote Sensing College of Engineering, Anna University, Guindy, Chennai – 600 025.
(iii) Prof.R.Saravanan, Centre for Water Resources College of Engineering, Anna Univesity, Guindy, Chennai – 600 025.
5. He fairly submitted that this Court may appoint two persons from the names suggested by the petitioner and one person from the names suggested from the Anna Univesity for giving appropriate report to the 1st respondent as well as the petitioner, enabling the petitioner to Page No.4 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 05/01/2026 08:51:04 pm ) W.P.No.38816 of 2025 comply the same in order to avoid future stagnation of water in the petitioner’s institution.
6. In view of the fair submission made by the learned counsel appearing for the parties, this Court is inclined to dispose of this writ petition on the following terms :-
(i) This Court forms the expert committee with Mr.K.Srinivasa Raju, Institute for Remote Sensing College of Engineering, Anna University, Guindy, Chennai – 600 025, Dr.B.Ramesh, Simats Engineering, Saveetha University, Chennai and Mr.D.Rajasekar, Environmental Engineer, Exnora.
The expert committee shall be chaired by Mr.K.Srinivasa Raju, Institute for Remote Sensing College of Engineering, Anna University.
(ii) The petitioner is directed to pay the remuneration to the above committee members.
(iii) This Court requests the expert committee to submit a report to the 1 st respondent as well as the petitioner, enabling them to comply the same in order to avoid the future stagnantion of water inside and outside the petitioner’s campus.
(iv) The respondents are directed to maintain the status-quo as on date.
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7. With the above directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.
24.11.2025 Index : Yes / No Speaking order / Non-speaking order Neutral Citation Case : Yes / No sp Page No.6 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 05/01/2026 08:51:04 pm ) W.P.No.38816 of 2025 To
1.The Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department, Public Works Department, Chennai Region, Chepauk, Chennai – 600 005.
2.The Executive Engineer, Water Resources Department, Krishna Water Supply Project Division-1, Public Works Department, Chepauk, Chennai – 600 005.
3.The Executive Engineer, Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board, No.1, Pumping Station Road, Chintadripet, Chennai.
Page No.7 of 8https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 05/01/2026 08:51:04 pm ) W.P.No.38816 of 2025 M.DHANDAPANI, J.
sp W.P.No.38816 of 2025 24.11.2025 Page No.8 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 05/01/2026 08:51:04 pm )