Going to visit marina beach. HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R. SURESH KUMAR AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA W.P.No.36085 of 2025 & W.M.P.No.40335 of 2025 S.Devi .. Petitioner

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 19.12.2025
CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R. SURESH KUMAR
AND
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA
W.P.No.36085 of 2025 & W.M.P.No.40335 of 2025
S.Devi .. Petitioner
Vs.
1. The Principal Secretary to Government
Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department Secretariat, Fort St.George Chennai – 600 009.
2. The Commissioner
Greater Chennai Corporation
Rippon Building, Chennai – 600 003.
3. The Zonal Officer
Greater Chennai Corporation No.8, 4th Cross Street, Nungambakkam Chennai – 600 034.
4. The Inspector of Police D-6, Anna Square Police Station Triplicane, Chennai – 600 005.
5. Kaviyarasu
6. Kalavathi
7. Jagadeesh
8. The Commissioner of Police
Chennai. .. Respondents
(R8 impleaded suo motu vide order dated 24.09.2025 in W.P.No.36085 of 2025 by RSKJ & ADJCJ)
Prayer: Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for issuance of writ of mandamus, directing the second respondent to consider the representation dated 05.07.2025 requesting to issue a shop for the petitioner and relocate the same in the Marina Beach.
For Petitioner : Mr.S.Elankumaran
For Respondents : Mr.M.Suresh Kumar
Additional Advocate General assisted by Dr.T.Seenivasan Special Government Pleader for R1
Mr.P.S.Raman Advocate General assisted by Mr.D.B.R.Prabhu Standing Counsel for R2 and R3
Mr.A.Gokulakrishnan Addtitional Public Prosecutor for R4 and R8
Mr.M.Madhuprakash for R5 to R7
ORDER (Order of the Court was made by R.SURESH KUMAR, J.)
Pursuant to our last order dated 26.11.2025, today, when the case is taken up for hearing, two reports have been filed; one by the Commissioner of the Greater Chennai Corporation and another by the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Environment,
Climate Change and Forest Department.
2. The sum and substance in both the reports are one and the same. According to the said reports, two meetings were conducted pursuant to our earlier directions with the Officials of the State Government, Greater Chennai Corporation and the City Police Commissionerate. In both the meetings, some decisions have been taken, where, inter alia, in the report, the following has been
stated:-
“5. I respectfully submit that, as such meeting conveyed by the Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation along with the above related officials on 09.10.2025 on and the following has been decided in the meeting:
➤ A layout sketch should be prepared for the vending shops of 10 to 12 rows of shops on the 270-acre beach area from Napier Bridge to Srinivasapuram.
➤ A survey should be conducted using drones to collect statistics on the number of shops currently existing in the Marina Beach.
➤ Layout details of 1500 shops which were submitted in 2021 have to be finalized.
➤ A committee should be formed for this purpose and a census should be taken for the existing shops The census should be taken based on the name, address / Aadhaar / license / details of the hawker. For this purpose, the details should be collected through an app by combining the details in the appropriate form with the additional details through the ICCC (Integrated Command and Control Centre) Department.
➤ Drone survey work must be carried out and a detailed report submitted to the Hon’ble Court before 12.10.2025.
➤ The Greater Chennai Corporation should complete the shop-by-shop survey of functioning and non-functioning of shops within two weeks and submit the details by the end of October.
➤ Interventions of Individual by the Associations in the allocation of shops in the coastal area should be avoided.
➤ A next meeting should be on 13.10.2025 under the chairmanship of the Commissioner with the Deputy Commissioner (Works) / Regional Deputy Commissioner (Central) and Traffic Police regarding traffic congestion and entire parking regularization especially near Napier Bridge.
➤ Food safety officials should conduct periodic inspections and monitor the quality/hygienic preparation of food items sold in the Marina Beach.
➤ To finalize the preparation of a scheme to streamline the street vending business and to plan for effective [3:26 pm, 19/12/2025] Sweet Child: measures to strictly maintain law and order at Marina Beach as well as in the Beach Road i.e..
Kadarkarai Kamarajar Salai.
6. I respectfully submit that, in continuation of the above, the Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Environment, Climate Change & Forest Department has also conducted a meeting on 14.10.2025 along with the Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation, Director,
Department of Environment and Climate Change,
Police Department (Additional Commissioner of Police, Law & Order, South). The vital portion of the minutes has been highlighted hereunder:-
“….A consultative meeting was held by the
Additional Chief Secretary to Government,
Environment, Climate Change & Forest
Department, along with the Commissioner,
Greater Chennai Corporation, Director,
Department of Environment and Climate Change,
Police Department (Additional Commissioner of Police, Law & Order, South) in compliance with the interim orders passed by the Hon’ble High Court of Madras in W.P.No.36085 of 2025 and W.M.P.No.40335 of 2025 regarding streamlining the street vending business in Marina Beach.
The Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation stated that one round of meeting was already done with Police Department, Also, a drone survey was conducted on 12.10.2025 (Sunday) from Napier Bridge to Srinivasapuram. More time will be needed for proper enumeration of shops
After detailed discussion and deliberations, it was decided that the above points may be brought before the Hon’ble High Court of Madras during the hearing on 15.10.2025 and the
Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation will brief the learned Advocate General and seek time for filing the preliminary report….”
7. I respectfully submit that the Marina Beach is demarcated into 5 segments from Napier Bridge to Lighthouse for the purpose of enumeration of shops for street vending on 14.10.2025 and the same as follows:-
➤ Labour Statue to Kannagi Statue

➤ Kannagi Statue to Slum board Office
➤ Slum Board Office to Avvaiyar Statue
➤ Avvaiyar Statue to Gandhi Statue
➤ Gandhi Statue to Light House
The Drone and Manual Survey taken in full fledged manner and further the Greater Chennai Corporation has proposed to develop another blue flag area at Marina Beach by converting 20 acres near Kannagi Statue.”
3. Along with the said report, a rough sketch with regard to the proposed location of shops also has been filed. That apart, yet another sketch regarding the on-going work of creation of a Blue-Flag area also had been filed.
4. On seeing these reports as well as the rough sketches filed by the respondents, especially the Greater Chennai Corporation, we are of the view that, in order to have a complete clarity as to the exact location where the shops are going to be provided in a row along with the service-road and how much of land in the beach area is going to to be spared for the people to enjoy the beach and also the facilities to be provided as part of the Blue-Flag Area Scheme, being undertaken now by the Greater Chennai Corporation, are all to be verified. Then only, further course of action in this mater could be decided and suitable orders could be passed.
5. In that view of the matter, we are proposed to have an inspection at Marina Beach, Chennai, on 22.12.2025 at 9.00 am. The stakeholders like the representatives from the State Government, the Commissioner of the Greater Chennai Corporation and his subordinates/officials, the Police Commissioner of Chennai or his subordinates/officers and any other stakeholders of various Governmental Agencies who have a say over the issue shall be present for inspection to give full assistance to the Court to
complete its inspection.
6. The Revenue Authorities, headed by the District Collector, Chennai District and his subordinates/officials, shall also be present along with the Revenue Records, detailing the entire sketch of the Marina Beach.
7. This order shall be immediately communicated by the
Registry to the respondents, as well as to the stakeholders by today
(19.12.2025) itself.
8. Post the matter for further hearing on 07.01.2026.
(R.S.K., J.) (A.D.J.C., J)
19.12.2025
Speaking Order/Non-Speaking Order
Neutral Citation:Yes/No
Internet:Yes/No Index:Yes/No
Note: Issue order copy on 19.12.2025.
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To:
1. The Principal Secretary to Government
Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department Secretariat, Fort St.George Chennai – 600 009.
2. The Commissioner
Greater Chennai Corporation
Rippon Building, Chennai – 600 003.
3. The Zonal Officer
Greater Chennai Corporation No.8, 4th Cross Street, Nungambakkam Chennai – 600 034.
4. The Inspector of Police D-6, Anna Square Police Station Triplicane, Chennai – 600 005.
5. The Commissioner of Police, Chennai.
6. The District Collector, Chennai.

R. SURESH KUMAR, J.
AND A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA , J.
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W.P.No.36085 of 2025
19.12.2025
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