Naming of a street is certainly not liable to be interfered with the exercise of the powers under Article 226. 6. As the petitioner has no legal righ
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 23-09-2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V. LAKSHMINARAYANAN
WP No. 35844 of 2025
&
WMP No. 40092 of 2025
R.K.Venkatesh
S/o.T.S.Radhakrishnan,
No.19, Chetty Street,
Thiruthani, Thiruvallur District … Petitioner
v.
1. The Principal Secretary to Government
Municipal Administration And Water
Supply (Na.Ni-5(2)) Department,
Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009
2. The Managing Director
Municipal Administration,
No.75, Urban Administrative Building,
Santhome High Road,
M.R.C. Nagar, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai-600 028
3.The District Collector, Tiruvallur District, Tiruvallur.
4. The Commissioner,
Thiruthani Municpality, Thiruthani,
Tiruvallur District. … Respondents
PRAYER: This Writ Petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the entire records relating to the impugned order passed by the 1st respondent to his Letter No.1456/ Na.Ni- 5(2) / 2025-3 dated 19.08.2025 and quash the same and consequently directing the 1st respondent to change over the Chetty Street name as Thai Thanthai Koil Street in Thiruthani Municipal Area, Thiruthani, Tiruvallur District
For Petitioner : Mr.C.Prakasam
For Respondents : Dr.T.Srinivasan, SGP for R1 to R3 Mr.P.Srinivas for R4
ORDER
The petitioner is a resident of Chetty Street in Tiruttani Town, Tirvellore District. Noticing that “Chetty” is a caste name, he gave a representation calling upon the respondents to apply the Government Order issued by the State of Tamil Nadu and remove the caste name and rename the street as “jha; jei;j nfhapy; bjU”. The reason for seeking such a unique prayer is that he had constructed a temple honouring his parents.
As no orders were passed in the representation to remove the caste name and rename the street, he filed W.P.No.6156 of 2025. This Court directed the representation dated 25.11.2024 to be disposed of on merits. As no action was forthcoming at the hands of the respondents, he initiated Contempt Petition No.2506 of 2025.
2. When the Contempt Petition came up for hearing on 28.08.2025, the Municipality represented that they have deleted the caste name and had renamed the street as “;rutz bgha;iff; Fsk; bjU”. On the basis of the representation of the first respondent that they have acted upon the request of the petitioner, the contempt petition came to be closed granting liberty to the petitioner to challenge the order, if he was so aggrieved. Hence the present writ petition.
3. I heard Mr.C.Prakasam for the petitioner and Dr.Srinivasan
for Respondents R1 to R3 and Mr.P.Srinivas for R4.
4. To a query to Mr.Prakasam as to the legal right of the
petitioner to demand that the street must be named as “ jha; je;ij nfhapy; bjU”, he is unable to point out any provision of law or circular to that effect. It is the decision of the municipality to name the street as it pleases. The petitioner had rightly pointed out that, contrary to the policy taken by the first respondent, the fourth respondent/Municipality continued with the caste name for the street. While his efforts to eradicate caste is to be appreciated, I am not in a position to accept his plea that the street must be named as he desires.
5. As contended by both the Srinivasans, under Section 129 of
the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998, it is the power of the Council to name streets with the approval of the Government. If the name of the street doesn’t it suit the petitioner’s choice, then there is nothing else that he can do with it but to live with it. Naming of a street is certainly not liable to be interfered with the exercise of the powers under
Article 226.
6. As the petitioner has no legal right, the writ petition is
dismissed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. No costs.
23.09.2025
Index : Yes/No
Internet : Yes/No Neutral Citation : Yes/No kal
To
1. The Principal Secretary to Government
Municipal Administration And Water
Supply (Na.Ni-5(2)) Department,
Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009
2. The Managing Director
Municipal Administration,
No.75, Urban Administrative Building,
Santhome High Road,M.R.C. Nagar, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai-600 028
3.The District Collector, Tiruvallur District, Tiruvallur.
4. The Commissioner,
Thiruthani Municpality, Thiruthani, Tiruvallur District.
V. LAKSHMINARAYANAN J.
kal
WP No. 35844 of 2025
&
WMP No. 40092 of 2025
23.09.2025
