Madras High Court
K.Kannan vs / on 4 August, 2025
Author: C.Saravanan
Bench: C.Saravanan
W.P.(MD) No.21096 of 2025
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 04.08.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.SARAVANAN
W.P.(MD) No.21096 of 2025
and
W.M.P.(MD) No.16315 of 2025
K.Kannan ... Petitioner
/vs./
1.The Managing Director,
Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation,
(TASMAC),
CMDA Tower,
Chennai.
2.The District Collector,
Virudhunagar District,
Virudhunagar.
3.The District Manager,
Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation,
(TASMAC),
Virudhunagar. ... Respondents
PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for
issuance of Writ of Mandamus, to forbear the respondents from
opening/establishing the TASMAC liquor shop at Ramasamiyapuram,
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W.P.(MD) No.21096 of 2025
Koomapatti, Watrap Taluk, Virudhunagar District by considering the petitioner's
representation dated 12.03.2025 and 22.07.2025 within the time stipulated by this
Court.
For Petitioner : Mr.M.Mohamed Zamil for
M/S.Ajmal Associates
For R1 & R3 : Mr.H.Arumugam
Standing Counsel
For R2 : Mr.D.Ghandiraj
Special Government Pleader
ORDER
Mr.H.Arumugam, learned Standing Counsel takes notice for the respondents 1 and 3 and Mr.D.Ghandiraj, learned Special Government Pleader takes notice for the second respondent.
2.This writ petition has been filed like a Public Interest Litigation for a Mandamus to forebear the respondents from opening/establishing the TASMAC liquor shop at Ramasamiyapuram, Koomapatti, Watrap Taluk, Virudhunagar District, by considering the petitioner's representations dated 12.03.2025 and 22.07.2025.
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3.There is a long history surrounding the establishment of a TASMAC shop in the said village in Virudhunagar District. It appears that earlier, an attempt was made to close a shop, which was located in the same place by one C.Kannan, by filing a Public Interest Litigation in W.P.(MD) No.20554 of 2019.
4.The said writ petition was filed for a Mandamus to consider the representation of the petitioner therein. The request of the petitioner therein was for removal of the said shop.
5.The said writ petition was, however, dismissed on 24.09.2019 with the following observations:-
“4.On a reading of the representation given by the petitioner as well as the averments stated in the affidavit filed in support of this writ petition, we find that it is not a public interest litigation, but there is a personal interest of the petitioner, which is involved in the matter. Therefore, at the instance of the petitioner, we cannot issue any direction to shift the shop.
5.However, it goes without saying that if there is any violation committed by the shop Supervisor or the Employees, then the second respondent should take appropriate action. However, we do not issue any direction for closure of the shop.
6.With the above observation, this Writ Petition stands dismissed. No costs.” 3/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 07/08/2025 06:05:45 pm ) W.P.(MD) No.21096 of 2025
6.Prior to filing of this writ petition, the petitioner has given a representation, dated 12.03.2025, followed by another representation, dated 22.07.2025. In the second mentioned representation, the petitioner has stated as follows:-
“tzf;fk;. ehd; Nkw;fz;l Kftupapy; FbapUe;J tUfpNwd;. ehd; SC Mjpjpuhtpl tFg;ig rhh;e;jth;. vq;fs; Cupy; 300f;Fk; Nkw;gl;l FLk;gq;fs; cs;sJ.
vq;fs; FbapUg;G gFjpfspy; lh];khf; fil ,Ue;jJ. mg;nghOJ mf;filapy; jpUl;L rk;gtq;fs;> nfhiyfs;> ,U rKjha ,isQUf;Fs; mbjb rz;il epiwa ele;Js;sJ.
mjw;fhf 18 FIR gjpT nra;ag;gl;L tof;F ele;J nfhz;bUf;fpwJ. ,jid ghu;j;j FbapUf;Fk; kf;fs; mr;rj;jpy; tho;e;J te;jdu;. mjd; gpd;G vq;fs; rKjha kf;fs; midtUk; xd;W $b khtl;l Ml;rpau;> khtl;l fhty; fz;fhzpg;ghsuplk; gy Kiw kD nra;Jk;> gy Nghuhl;lq;fs; elj;jpAk; filia %l nra;Njhk;. gpd;G me;j filia jpwg;gjw;F mq;F yhupapy; nghUl;fis nfhz;L te;jdu;. nghJkf;fs; gpur;rid nra;J jpUk;g nfhz;L nrd;wdu;. fil Xgd; nra;atpy;iy. ,e;j ehs; tiu Ie;J Kiw lh];khf; fil jpwf;f Kaw;rp nra;J tUfpwhu;fs;. kf;fs; kPz;Lk; kPz;Lk; Nghuhl;lk; nra;J lh];khf; fil jpwf;f tplhky; jLj;J tUfpNwhk;. ,J vq;fs; kf;fis kpFe;j kd Ntjidf;Fk; kd cisr;rYf;Fk; cs;shf;fpAs;sJ. 300 f;Fk; Nkw;gl;l FLk;gq;fisAila jho;j;jg;gl;l kf;fshfpa vq;fspd; tho;thjhu ghjpg;gpw;Fk; rl;l xOq;F rPu;NfLf;Fk;
jkpo;ehL muNr fhuzk;.
jw;NghJ rptfhrpia Nru;e;j khupag;gd; vd;gtu; tpUJefu; khtl;lj;jpy; 40 f;Fk; Nkw;gl;l muR kJghd ghu;fis> ,tu; ngaupYk; gpdhkp ngaupYk; elj;jp tUfpwhu;. ,tu; ,e;J kwtu; tFg;igr; rhu;e;jtu;. rptfhrpia Nru;e;j khupag;gd; vq;fs; rKjha kf;fs; FbapUf;Fk; gFjpapy; cs;s xU tPl;il mtu; ngaupy; gj;jpu gjpT nra;J> me;j ,lj;jpy; lh];khf; filia 4/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 07/08/2025 06:05:45 pm ) W.P.(MD) No.21096 of 2025 jpwf;f jpl;lkpl;L KO Kaw;rp nra;J tUfpwhu;. lh];khf; fil itg;gjw;F ngUk; Kaw;rp nra;J tpUJefu; khtl;l lh];khf; khtl;l Nkyhsuplk; gy yl;r yQ;rg; gzj;ij nfhLj;J lh];khf; fil jpwg;gjw;F Njitahd Ntiyia KO Kaw;rpAld; nra;J tUfpwhu;. ,e;j ,lj;jpy; vq;fs; rKjha kf;fspd; tho;thjhuj;ij mopf;f Kaw;rp nra;J tUfpwhu;. ,e;j ,lj;jpy; lh];khf; fil itj;J rhjp fytuj;ij J}z;Lk; tifapy; khupag;gd; nray;gl;L tUfpwhu;. gpw rhjpapdu; FbapUg;G gFjpf;Fs; nrd;W lh];khf; filia jpwf;f Ntz;baJ jhNd ,tu; ,e;j Kaw;rpia iftpl Ntz;Lk;.
lh];khf; fil Kd;ghf ,uz;L nfhiyfs;
ele;Js;sJ. ,jdhy; kf;fs; mr;rj;jpy; cs;sdu;. gy jlit khtl;l Ml;rpau;> khtl;l fhty; fz;fhzpg;ghsu;> Kjy;tu; jdpg;gpupT> SC/ST Mizak; Nghd;w gy mjpfhupfSf;F jfty; nfhLj;Jk;> fbjk; mDg;gpAk; ahUk; fz;L nfhs;shky; lh];khf; filia jpwe;Nj Mf Ntz;Lk; vd Fwpf;Nfhshf cs;sdu;.
jpuhtpl Ml;rpapy; Kjy;tu; mtu;fs; jkpo;ehl;by; lh];khf; filia Fiwg;gjhf Nju;jy; mwpf;ifia nrhy;ypapUe;Jk; vq;fs; Cupy; r%f tpNuhjpfspd; J}d;LjypYk;> Nkyhjpf;fk; nfhz;l rhjpapdUk; Nru;e;J vq;fs; FbapUg;Gf;Fs; lh];khf; filia jpwf;f Ntz;Lk; vd;w Nehf;fj;jpy; jPtpukhf nray;gl;L tUfpd;wdu;. vq;fs; rKjhaj;jpd; kPJ muRf;F mf;fiw ,y;iyah vd;W njupatpy;iy. vq;fs; FbapUg;G gFjpf;Fs; lh];khf; filia jpwg;gjw;fhd Ntiyia epWj;j Ntz;Lk;. vq;fs; giwau; r%fj;ij Nkhrkhd tof;F ,l;L nry;tj;ij jLf;fTk;> vdJ kf;fs; mr;rkpd;wp tho itf;fTk; fzk; Iah mtu;fs; lh];khf; filia jpwg;gij epWj;j Ntz;Lk;.
rptfhrp khupag;gd; vd;gtu; Cu; nghWg;gpy; cs;s ehl;lhz;ik jiytu; kw;Wk; Kf;fpa];ju;fis gzj;ij nfhLj;J jd; iftrk; itj;Jf; nfhs;fpwhu;. Mifahy; vq;fis Nghd;w rhjhuz nghJkf;fshfpa ehq;fs; ahuplKk;
Kiwapl;lhYk; gzj;ij itj;J ,e;j gpur;rpid KbTf;F nfhz;L te;J lh];khf; filia jpwg;gNj Kf;fpak; vd rptfhrp 5/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 07/08/2025 06:05:45 pm ) W.P.(MD) No.21096 of 2025 khupag;gd; jiyikapy; vq;fs; r%fj;ij mopf;f Kaw;rp nra;J tUfpd;wdu;.
mt;thW fz;bg;ghf jpwf;Fk;gl;rj;jpy; vq;fs; rKjhaj;ij Nru;e;j Mz;fs; ngz;fs; midtUk; Nru;e;J njhlu;e;J Nghuhl Ntz;ba R+oy; Vw;gLk;. mg;nghOJ rhjp uPjpahd fytuk; Vw;gl mjpfkhf tha;g;Gs;sJ. mq;F rl;lk; xOq;F gpur;rid Vw;glhky; kf;fis mikjpahf tho top nra;Aq;fs;. vq;fs; gFjpapy; lh];khf; filia jpwg;gij epWj;Jq;fs; vd;gij gzpTld; njuptpj;Jf; nfhs;fpNwhk;.”
7.The learned standing counsel for the respondents 1 and 3 would submit that already an order has been passed by the District Collector, Virudhunagar District, on 30.06.2023 for reestablishment of a TASMAC shop/Bar at the premises. It is submitted that the file has been kept pending with the first respondent and that the first respondent will take a decision on this aspect.
8.The learned Special Government Pleader for the second respondent has drawn attention to a recent decision of the Division Bench of this Court in respect of the order passed by the District Manager, Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited, Virudhunagar, dated 12.10.2023 bearing Ref.Na.Ka.No.A1/140/2018, in W.P.(MD) No.7261 of 2025, which was again filed as Public Interest Litigation. However, the said writ petition was dismissed.
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9.Prima facie, it appears that the petitioner cannot object to the opening of the TASMAC shop and the TASMAC Bar at the location for the reasons stated in the representation, dated 22.07.2025.
10.However, the respondents may take a reasoned decision as to whether the establishment of TASMAC shop can pose a law and order situation, if indeed there are more than 18 FIRs that have been registered. That apart, the respondents may also consider whether any case has been filed for murder in the aforesaid premises.
11.The respondents shall take stock of all the factors and thereafter pass a fresh order before giving a sanction for opening of the TASMAC shop. The respondents shall bear in mind propensity for communal clashes and the law and order situation, which had prevailed on account of the TASMAC shop, which was there earlier.
12.Needless to state, the petitioner and the other members of the village 7/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 07/08/2025 06:05:45 pm ) W.P.(MD) No.21096 of 2025 may be heard before final orders are passed. It is open for the petitioner to obtain necessary copies of the order of the District Collector, Virudhunagar, which is said to have been passed in the year 2023.
13.The said exercise shall be completed within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
14.With the aforesaid directions, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.
Index : Yes / No 04.08.2025
Internet : Yes / No
mm
To
The District Collector,
Virudhunagar District,
Virudhunagar.
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W.P.(MD) No.21096 of 2025
C.SARAVANAN, J.
mm
W.P.(MD) No.21096 of 2025
04.08.2025
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