The retired Madras HC judge has given up the monthly honorarium of Rs 300 per month offered by the Tamil Nadu government. for Operation Sezhumai Karuvoolam

Madras High Court Judge V Bharathidasan, who waived the ₹3 lakh per month honorarium offered by the Tamil Nadu government to oversee the court, launched Operation Sezhumai Karuvoolam to eradicate the exotic and invasive seemai karuvelam (Prosopis juliflora) species from the state. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Former Madras High Court Judge V. Bharathidasan has waived an honorarium of ₹ 3 lakh per month offered by the Tamil Nadu government to oversee the judicial operation ‘Sezhumai Karuvoolam’ to eradicate the exotic and invasive species of seemai karuvelam (Prosopis juli) from the state, which is considered harmful, by its native habitat. species.

Divisional Judges N. Sathish Kumar and K. Rajasekar were informed that the retired judge had decided to work without any honorarium or personal benefit, though the State Government had already sanctioned ₹ 72 crore to pay a monthly honorarium of ₹ 3 lakh each to him and retired judge A. Selvam with effect from 2.6.

Operation Sezhumai Karuvoolam

The court appointed two retired judges to monitor the Sezhumai Karuvoolam operation in the northern and southern districts of the state based on suggestions given by amici curiae T. Mohan, Chevanan Mohan, M. Santhanaraman and Rahul Balaji, who have long assisted the court in dealing with a number of environmental problems of the state in almost all the districts.

In his latest status report before the Bench, Revenue Minister KS Palanisamy said that Mr. Bharathidasan had written to Environment Minister Kakarla Usha on 11 September 2026 expressing his decision to waive the honorarium offered by the government and fulfill the responsibility entrusted to him by the court without any remuneration or personal benefit.

“In a letter, the Honorable Judge Commissioner requested the government that the honorarium allotted to him may be used for the removal and eradication of Prosopis juliflora, rehabilitation of the affected lands or any other activity directly related to the implementation of the program. Further steps will be taken in this regard as directed by this court,” the report said.

In view of the earlier direction issued by the court to release ₹185 crore at ₹5 crore per district from the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) funds, administered by 37 out of 38 districts excluding the Nilgiris, for the Sezhumai Karuvoolam operation, the revenue authority said there was a delay of 1 due to delay 3 due to the reduction of the Tamil Nadu DMFT Funds Rule, 2025.

The court was informed that Rule 13 allows release of DMFT funds only for specific purposes and therefore steps were taken to provide funds either from DMFT or from any other source. Mr. Palanisamy further told the Bench that a dedicated WhatsApp group comprising Personal Assistants (General) has been formed for all collectors to ensure effective coordination in the eradication of seemai karuvelam.

Published – 19 Sep 2026 16:07 IST