Susetha vs State Of Tamil Nadu And Ors

The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Madras High Court allowing the construction of a shopping complex on an abandoned temple tank, ruling that the tank had lost its utility and was being used as a dumping yard. The Court noted that the tank was an artificial structure with no inlet or outlet facilities, and the State had the authority to repurpose the land for public use. The Court emphasized that the preservation of water bodies must be balanced with developmental needs, affirming the High Court's findings and dismissing the appellant's claims under Article 21 regarding water scarcity.