Madras HC Orders Crackdown on Illegal Homestays in Nilgiris
A special Division Bench comprising Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy issued the directive
By : DC Web Desk
Update: 2025-04-30 07:57 GMT
Chennai: The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to take immediate action against unauthorised homestay facilities operating without valid licences in the popular hill stations of Nilgiris and Kodaikanal. The court has ordered the closure of all such establishments functioning in violation of the law.
A special Division Bench comprising Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy issued the directive while hearing a batch of public interest litigations concerning the protection of forest areas in the state. The bench expressed serious concern over the mushrooming of unregulated homestays and cottages in ecologically sensitive zones.
To ensure effective enforcement, the court ordered the formation of two district-level committees — one each for the Nilgiris and Dindigul districts, where Kodaikanal is located. Each committee will be headed by the respective District Revenue Officer (DRO) and will also include the Municipal Commissioner and the District Tourism Officer.
The committees have been tasked with conducting field inspections to verify the credentials of homestay operators and to identify those functioning without approval from relevant government departments. Based on their findings, appropriate legal action is to be initiated, including immediate closure of unauthorised facilities.
The court's directive comes amid growing concerns over the environmental and safety implications of illegal tourism infrastructure in Tamil Nadu’s hill stations. Authorities have been instructed to act swiftly to ensure compliance with regulations and preserve the ecological balance of these fragile regions.
A special Division Bench comprising Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy issued the directive while hearing a batch of public interest litigations concerning the protection of forest areas in the state. The bench expressed serious concern over the mushrooming of unregulated homestays and cottages in ecologically sensitive zones.
To ensure effective enforcement, the court ordered the formation of two district-level committees — one each for the Nilgiris and Dindigul districts, where Kodaikanal is located. Each committee will be headed by the respective District Revenue Officer (DRO) and will also include the Municipal Commissioner and the District Tourism Officer.
The committees have been tasked with conducting field inspections to verify the credentials of homestay operators and to identify those functioning without approval from relevant government departments. Based on their findings, appropriate legal action is to be initiated, including immediate closure of unauthorised facilities.
The court's directive comes amid growing concerns over the environmental and safety implications of illegal tourism infrastructure in Tamil Nadu’s hill stations. Authorities have been instructed to act swiftly to ensure compliance with regulations and preserve the ecological balance of these fragile regions.