Retired Madras HC judge relinquishes ₹3-lakh monthly honorarium offered by Tamil Nadu govt. for Sezhumai Karuvoolam operation
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Madras High Court retired judge V. Bharathidasan, who has relinquished an honorarium of ₹3 lakh per month offered by Tamil Nadu government to supervise court initiated operation Sezhumai Karuvoolam aimed at eradicating the exotic and invasive species seemai karuvelam (Prosopis juliflora) from the State. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Retired Madras High Court judge V. Bharathidasan has relinquished an honorarium of ₹3 lakh per month offered by the Tamil Nadu government for supervising a court-initiated operation, ‘Sezhumai Karuvoolam’, aimed at eradicating the exotic and invasive species seemai karuvelam (Prosopis juliflora) from the State, as it is considered harmful to the environment, and replacing it with native species.
A Division Bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and K. Rajasekar were informed that the retired judge had decided to work without the receipt of any honorarium or personal benefit, though the State government had already accorded sanction for ₹72 lakh towards the payment of monthly honorarium at the rate of ₹3 lakh each to him and retired judge A. Selvam with effect from March 18, 2026.
The court had appointed the two retired judges to monitor the Sezhumai Karuvoolam operation in the northern and southern districts of the State on the basis of the suggestions given by amici curiae T. Mohan, Chevanan Mohan, M. Santhanaraman, and Rahul Balaji, who had been assisting the court for long in addressing a host of environmental issues in almost all districts of the State.
In his latest status report before the Bench, Revenue Secretary K.S. Palanisamy said that Mr. Bharathidasan had written to the Environment Secretary Kakarla Usha on September 11, 2026, expressing his decision to relinquish the honorarium offered by the government and discharge the responsibility entrusted upon him by the court without claiming any remuneration or personal benefit.
“In the letter, the honourable judge commissioner has requested the government that the honorarium earmarked to him may be utilised for the removal and eradication of Prosopis juliflora, restoration of the affected lands, or for any other activity directly connected with the implementation of the programme. Further actions will be taken in this regard as per the directions of this court,” the report read.
Insofar as the earlier direction issued by the court to release ₹185 crore at the rate of ₹5 crore per district from the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) funds, maintained by 37 out of 38 districts except The Nilgiris, for the Sezhumai Karuvoolam operation, the Revenue Secretary said that there was delay in releasing the funds due to the constraints under Rule 13 of the Tamil Nadu DMFT Funds Rules, 2025.
The court was informed that Rule 13 permits the release of DMFT Funds only for specific purposes and hence, steps were being taken to provide the funds either from the DMFT or any other source. Mr. Palanisamy further told the Bench that a dedicated WhatsApp group comprising the Personal Assistants (general) to all the Collectors had been formed in order to ensure effective coordination in eradicating seemai karuvelam.
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