A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and G. Arul Murugan directed the school administration and the flat owners or the occupants not to alienate or mortgage the property till further orders in the appeals.
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Considering that vacant lands in the 31.10-acre property in Moondrumavadi near K. Pudur on Alagarkoil road in Madurai has already been resumed by the State and boards installed, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court ordered status quo be maintained with regard to the school and the apartment complex functioning on the property.
The property comprises residential blocks, commercial establishments and a vast vacant space opposite the apartment complex across the road.
A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and G. Arul Murugan directed the school administration and the flat owners or the occupants not to alienate or mortgage the property till further orders in the appeals. As far as the vacant land was concerned, the government was at liberty to take possession of the land and utilise the same for public purposes, the court observed.
The court was hearing the batch of appeals preferred by the Commissioner of Land Administration and the State. The court took cognisance of the documents produced by the government.
The court observed that the documents produced by the government would show that they have taken possession and installed the government boards on the property. Therefore, the government having cancelled the assignment was entitled to possess the property which they have already taken.
Government lands were assigned in favour of the Foreign Missions in 1912. The authorities found that the assignment conditions were violated and initiated actions for resumption of land. The Commissioner of Land Administration adjudicated the issues and passed orders in 2024 resuming the land by cancelling the assignment. The order was challenged. The writ petitions were allowed. The Commissioner of Land Administration preferred the appeals, the court observed.
The court directed the owners / occupants of commercial shops to deposit the rents in a separate account to be maintained by the Madurai Collector. The Collector was directed to open a separate account for the purpose of maintaining the deposits made from and out of the rent/charges to be collected from the commercial shops.
The Collector was empowered to enhance the rent by fixing the market value by following the procedures, during the pendency of the appeals, the court directed.
Published – September 10, 2025 10:42 pm IST
