CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has refused to interfere with court orders against illegal resorts and homestays in the Nilgiris and dismissed the petitions filed by two resorts which were sealed by the civic body for violations.
The petitions were filed by Aakash Rooms and Cottages and Golden Larch Residency of Ooty in the Nilgiris district. They stated that the municipality officials locked and sealed these resorts on January 24, 2026, even though permission was obtained from the authorities.
They added that no prior notice or an opportunity of hearing was given to them before passing the impugned orders for the lock and seal action.
The counsel for the respondent authorities submitted that, during inspection, these resorts were found to be violating building norms and they were sealed as per the directions of the special bench for forest related matters.
He also said notices were issued to the resorts on July 28, 2025, before issuing the lock and seal orders under section 145 (2) of Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998, and section 56 (2-A) 57 (4) of TN Town and Country Planning Act, 1971. Dismissing the petitions, the first bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan, in a recent order, stated the petitioners have filed writ petitions in court instead of availing appeal remedy available before the secretary of municipal administration and water supplies department.
Referring to the petitioners’ contention that the lock and seal action was taken pursuant to the special bench’s order, the first bench said the petitioners shall approach the particular bench and plead for intervention.
If any order is passed in these petitions, it will affect or interdict the proceedings of the special bench, it said. However, the bench said the order shall not preclude the petitioners from approaching the special bench seeking intervention.