Madrasdated High Court · 2025

W.P. Nos.40815 of 2005, 14991 of 2007 and23128 of 2018of the 3rd respondent in impugned G.O. (D) No.35 dated 24.09.2004 issued by Information Technology Department and quash the same. Prayer in W.P. No. 14991 of 200 7 : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records of the 3rd respondent in impugned G.O. (D) No.35 dated 24.9.2004 issued by Information Technology Department and quash the same. Prayer in W.P. No. 23128 of 2018 : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records of the 2nd respondent in impugned G.O. (D) No.35 dated 24.09.2004 issued by Information Technology Department and quash the same and consequently not to give effect the impugned circular bearing Roc. No.13052/Track Rent/D2/2017 dated 28.03.2018 issued by the fifth respondent. For Petitioner in all W.P.s: Mr.S. UdayakumarFor respondents in W.P. No.40815 of 2005 & 14991 of 2007: Mr.P.S. Raman Advocate General Asstd. By Mr.P. Ganesan Addl. Govt. Pleader for R1 to R7For respondents in 14/28 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. Nos.40815 of 2005, 14991 of 2007 and23128 of 2018W.P. No.23128 of 2018 : Mr.P. Ganesan Addl. Govt. Pleader for RR1 to 7, 15, 21, 22, 29, 31, 39 to 41, 45.Dr. T. SrinivasanSpl. Govt. Pleader for R9 and R12Ms.S. AnithaSpl. Govt. Pleader for R14Mr.M. RajendiranAddl. Govt. Pleader for R17Ms.P. Ishwariya Govt. Advocate for R27Mr.M.S. PremkumarGovt. Advocate for R28Mr.A.M. Ayyadurai Govt. Advocate for R32, R43Mr.C. SelvarajAddl. Govt. Pleader for R44Mr.B. Anand for R10 and R11Mr. Rajamathivanan for R13Mr.V. Jayaprakash Narayananfor RR16, 18 & 19Mr.D. SurynanarayananRR20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 30, 33, 34, 35, 36, 42Ms.P. Rajalakshmifor RR38COMMON ORDER The petitioner, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), a Government of India 15/28 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. Nos.40815 of 2005, 14991 of 2007 and23128 of 2018undertaking formed to carry out telecom services, is under the administrative control of the Department of Telecommunications. The petitioner is aggrieved by G.O. No.35, dated 24.09.2004, issued by the Information Technology Department, whereby BSNL was directed to pay track rent for the use of public places and roads for laying Optical Fibre Cables (OFC), required for their telecom operations. Challenging the said Government Order viz., G.O. No.35 dated 24.09.2004, these writ petitions have been filed. 2. Learned Advocate General, assisted by Mr.P. Ganesan , learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for respective respondents would submit that subsequent to the issuance of G.O. No.35, as referred to supra, the State Government has framed new rules, and consequent to which, the Tamil Nadu Telecom Infrastructure Policy, 2022 was also framed. He drew the attention of this Court to Chapter IV(6) of the Tamil Nadu Telecom Infrastructure Policy, 2022, which reads as under :-“6) In line with the Indian Telegraph Right of Way Rules, 2016, no track rent (one-time or annually) shall be charged by any District Nodal Officer or Appropriate Authority for grant of any permission under any existing Government Orders of annual track rent issued by Revenue and Disaster Management / Rural Development and Panchayat Raj or Municipal Administration & Water Supply departments”. 16/28 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. Nos.40815 of 2005, 14991 of 2007 and23128 of 20183. He further submitted that the State Government has duly aligned its position with the Government of India guidelines, and track rent has been completely waived from the year 2022 onwards. In view of the subsequent change in policy and waiver of track rent, nothing survives for adjudication in these writ petitions and the same may be closed.4. Recording the aforesaid submissions, these writ petitions are closed. No costs. Consequently connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 12.11.2025Index:Yes/NoSpeaking/Non-speaking orderNeutral Citation : Yes/Novsi2To 1. The Special Commissioner and17/28 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. Nos.40815 of 2005, 14991 of 2007 and23128 of 2018Commissioner of Land Administration,Govt. of Tamil Nadu,Chepauk,Chennai – 600 005.2. The Accountant General (Audit – II),Tamil Nadu,No.61, Greams Road,Chennai – 600 006.3. The SecretaryInformation Technology Department,Government of Tamil Nadu,Secretariat,Chennai – 600 005.4. The Secretary,Revenue Department,Government of Tamil Nadu,Secretariat,Chennai – 600 005. 5. The Secretary,Highways Department,Government of Tamil NaduSecretariat,Chennai – 600 005.6. The District Collector,Cuddalore District,Cuddalore – 607 001.7. The District Collector,18/28 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. Nos.40815 of 2005, 14991 of 2007 and23128 of 2018Villupuram District,Collectorate,Villupuram – 605 602.8. Tahsildar,Taluk Office,Sankarapuram,Villupuram Dt.9. TahsildarTaluk Office,Tirukoilur,Villupuram Dt. 10. The Special Commissioner andCommissioner of Land Administration,Govt. of Tamil Nadu,Chepauk,Chennai – 600 005.11. The Accountant General (Audit – II),Tamil Nadu,No.361, Anna Salai,Teynampet,Chennai – 600 018.12. The SecretaryInformation Technology Department,Government of Tamil Nadu,Secretariat, Chennai – 600 005.19/28 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. Nos.40815 of 2005, 14991 of 2007 and23128 of 201813. The Secretary,Revenue Department,Government of Tamil Nadu,Secretariat,Chennai – 600 009. 14. The Secretary,Highways Department,Government of Tamil NaduSecretariat,Chennai – 600 005.15. The District Collector,Salem District,Collectorate,Salem – 636 001. 16. The District Collector,Namakkal District,Collectorate,Namakkal.17. Tahsildar,Taluk Office,Attur. 18.The Special Commissioner and Commissioner of Land Administration, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai-600 005.20/28 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. Nos.40815 of 2005, 14991 of 2007 and23128 of 201819. The Secretary.Information Technology Department, Government of Tamilnadu, Secretariat, Chennai 600 009.20. The Secretary,Revenue Department, (LRV-2) Government of Tamilnadu, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.21. The Secretary,Highways and Rural Works Department,Government of Tamilnadu.Secretariat,Chennai-600 005.22. The Commissioner, Commissionerate of Municipal Administration, Ezhilagam, Chepauk. Chennai 600 005.23. The Director, The Directorate of Town Panchayats, Kuralagam, Chennai-600 108.24. The District Collector, Erode District, Collectorate,Erode-638 001.21/28 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. Nos.40815 of 2005, 14991 of 2007 and23128 of 201825. The Accountant General (Audit-II), Tamil Nadu, 361, Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai-600 018.26. The Commissioner, Bhavani Municipality, Bhavani,Erode District.27. The CommissionerGobichettipalayam Municipality,Gobichettipalayam,Erode District.28. The Commissioner,Punjai Puliyampatti Municipality.Erode District.29. The Commissioner,Sathyamangalam Municipality,Sathyamangalam,Erode District.30. The Commissioner,Erode Municipality,Erode District.31. The Block Development Officer (Panchayats),Sathyamangalam Panchayat Union,Sathyamangalam,Erode District.32. The President / Administrative Officer,22/28 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. Nos.40815 of 2005, 14991 of 2007 and23128 of 2018Savundapur Panchayat, Savundapur, Gobichettipalayam Panchayat Union, Erode District. Pin: 638 502.33. The Block Development Officer (Village Panchayats), Panchayat Union Office, Thookkanaickenpalayam, Erode District.34. The Block Development Officer, Panchayat Union Office, Modakurichi, Erode District.35. The Executive Officer, Athani Town Panchayat, Erode District.36. The Executive Officer, Pethampalayam Town Panchayat, Perunthurai Panchayat Union, Erode District.37. The Executive Officer, Bhavanisagar Town Panchyat, Bhavnaisagar, Erode District.38. The Executive Officer, Ayalur Panchayat, Gobichettipalayam Panchayat Union, Malliyalayam- 638 543.39. The Executive Officer, 23/28 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. Nos.40815 of 2005, 14991 of 2007 and23128 of 2018Modachur Panchayat, Gobichettipalayam Panchayat Union, Erode District.40. The Executive Officer, Olagadam Town Panchayat, Olagadam-638 314. Erode District.41. The Executive Officer, Kugalur Town Panchayat, Kugalur-638 313, Erode District.42. The Executive Officer,Kanjikovil Town Panchayat,Kanjikovil,Erode District.43. The Executive Officer,Jambai Town Panchayat,Jambai,Erode District.44. The Executive Officer,Nallampatti Town Panchayat.Nallampatti-638 057.Erode District.45. The Executive Officer,Surampatti Third Grade Municipality,Erode 11.24/28 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. Nos.40815 of 2005, 14991 of 2007 and23128 of 2018Erode District.46. Tahsildar,Taluk Office,Erode,Erode District.47. The Executive Officer,Kasipalayam Town PanchayatGobichettipalayam.48. The Commissioner,Panchayat Union, Vellakoil.49. The Executive Officer, Kannivadi, Mulanur.50. The Commissioner, Panchayat Union, Kundadam.51. The Executive Officer, Muthur Town Panchayat,Muthur.52. The Executive Officer, Kilambadi Town Panchayat Malaiyampalayam post.25/28 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. Nos.40815 of 2005, 14991 of 2007 and23128 of 201853. The Executive Officer,Elathur Town Panchayat,Nambiyur54. The Executive Officer,Ariyappampalayam Town Panchayat,Sathyamangalam.55. The Executive Officer,Koalppalur Town Panchayat,Gobichettipalayam.56. The Executive Officer,Mulanur Town Panchayat,Mulanur57. The Commissioner, Panchayat Union,Erode.58. The Executive Officer,Kollankoil Town Panchayat,Erode.59. The Executive Officer,P. Mettupalayam Town Panchayat,P.Mettupalayam.60. The Executive Officer,Koathupalayam,26/28 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. Nos.40815 of 2005, 14991 of 2007 and23128 of 2018Dharapuram.61. The Commissioner,Dharapuram Municipality,Dhrapuram.62. The Commissioner,Panchayat Union,Thukanaickenpalayam,Gobichettipalayam.M. DHANDAPANI, J. vsi227/28 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P. Nos.40815 of 2005, 14991 of 2007 and23128 of 2018W.P. Nos.40815 of 2005, 14991 of 2007and23128 of 2018andW.M.P. Nos.27026 and 27027 of 2018andW.P. M.P. No.43790 of 2005andM.P. No.2 of 2007M.P. No.1 of 2014 12.11.202528/28