Supreme Court upholds water body land cancellation, directs alternative site for flat owners

A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices S.V.N. Bhatti and N.V. Anjaria has validated the state authorities' decision to cancel the property deed granted over the water body while granting relief to the affected residents. The court has mandated that the Tamil Nadu government identify and allot a suitable alternative site to the 20 flat owners who constructed their apartments on the disputed land. The state has been given a six-month window to complete the allotment process before any demolition action is undertaken against the residential structures. The judgment reflects the court's effort to balance environmental protection concerns with the rights of property owners who may have acted in good faith. The ruling underscores the judiciary's approach to ensure that regulatory decisions do not leave citizens without recourse, even when public interest considerations necessitate action against encroachments on protected water bodies.