Coimbatore:
The legal battle over the alleged encroachment of a prime public land parcel worth nearly ₹10 crore in Coimbatore has taken a fresh turn, with the Supreme Court postponing the hearing of the case to August 14 for final orders.
The dispute pertains to an Open Space Reservation (OSR) land located at Meenakshi Nagar Layout in Saravanampatti, Coimbatore. The land had originally been earmarked for the development of a public park aimed at improving environmental sustainability and community welfare.
According to civic authorities, the property had allegedly been occupied and enjoyed for several years by S. Aravind, son of Sivagnanam. Aravind had also reportedly requested the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation to accept an alternative private land owned by him in exchange for the OSR park site.
However, the Corporation rejected the proposal on December 8, 2020. Subsequently, on July 17, 2021, officials issued a notice directing him to remove the encroachment.
Challenging the notice, Aravind approached the Madras High Court. In a significant verdict delivered on December 19, 2025, the High Court dismissed his petition and directed the Corporation to clear the encroachment and restore the land for public use as a park.
Acting on the court order, Coimbatore Corporation officials reclaimed the property on January 21 amid strong resistance and fenced the land under civic control.
Aravind later challenged the High Court verdict before the Supreme Court in New Delhi. In response, the Coimbatore Corporation filed a counter affidavit through advocate Poornima Krishna.
In its submission, the Corporation stated that lands reserved for parks and playgrounds in approved layouts are meant exclusively for public welfare and cannot be diverted for private purposes under any circumstances. It further argued that the petitioner already has valid access routes to his property and that the demand to use the park land as a pathway was unjustified.
The Corporation also contended that no leniency should be shown to individuals who allegedly encroach upon public land for personal gain and sought dismissal of the appeal with costs.
During the latest hearing, the Supreme Court deferred the matter to August 14, when final orders are expected to be passed.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Reserve Site Protection Association Secretary S.P. Thiagarajan stated that individuals involved in encroaching upon public lands must not only face strict punishment but should also be subjected to heavy financial penalties.
The issue has also sparked political and public debate, with social activists questioning whether influential individuals would continue to exert pressure on government officials, as allegedly witnessed during previous administrations.
The case has now emerged as a major test of how firmly public authorities intend to act against large-scale encroachments on lands reserved for the common public.
