The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition that sought a direction to restrain the authorities from collecting fee from the public for bathing at the Old Courtallam falls in Tenkasi district.

A Division Bench of Justices D. Bharatha Chakravarthy and R. Poornima dismissed the petition filed by S. Subash of Tenkasi district after the State submitted that the authorities were collecting only entry fee and a G.O. had already been issued in this regard.

The petitioner said the tourist season at Courtallam would begin in June 2026. Maintenance works were being carried out on a war footing at the waterfalls. Under such circumstances, the Forest Department had issued a notification stating that a fee of Rs.20 per person would be collected for bathing at the Old Courtallam falls. He sought a direction to restrain the authorities from collecting fee from the public for bathing at the Old Courtallam falls.