Muthulakshmi v. The District Collector
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 01-04-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA AND WMP NO. 13340 OF 2026 Muthulakshmi W/o Veerasundaram, Anna Salai, Melvalaiyamadevi, Bhuvangiri Taluk, Cuddalore district ..Petitioner(s) Vs
1. The District Collector O/o the District collector, Cuddalore District
2. The General manager HR Department, PRO building, NLCIL, Neyveli Post, Cuddalore 607 807
3. The General Manager (Land Department) Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited, Neyveli Post, Cuddalore 607 807
4. The Special Deputy Collector ( Land Acquisition) O/o the Special Tahsildar, Neyvili Post, Cuddalore District ..Respondent(s)
PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records in Lr.No 2211/ GM / LAND / 2024 on the file of the 2ndrespondent dated 15.06.2024 and quash the same and further direct the respondent No. 2 to reconsider the employment of the petitioner or her daughter namely Anitha on par with report of the Special Deputy collector (Land Acquisition) Neyveli / 4threspondent made in Muu. Mu. (Di) 4171 / 98 dated 06.11.1998 based on the representation dated 28.11.2025. For Petitioner(s):
Mr.D.Veerasekharan For Respondent(s):
Mr.P.Ganesan Additional Government Pleader Order This writ petition has been filed for the following relief: "To issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records in Lr.No 2211/ GM / LAND / 2024 on the file of the 2ndrespondent dated 15.06.2024 and quash the same and consequently direct the 2ndrespondent to reconsider the employment of the petitioner or her daughter namely Anitha on par with the report of the Special Deputy collector (Land Acquisition) Neyveli / 4threspondent made in Muu. Mu. (Di) 4171 / 98 dated 06.11.1998 based on the representation dated 28.11.2025.
2. The petitioner would submit that she is the daughter of one Vaithiyalingam, who owned agricultural land measuring 1.63.5 hectares in
Survey No.403/4, Ammeri Village, Neyveli Taluk, Cuddalore District. The said land was acquired by the Government under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, pursuant to a notification issued on 20.07.1979. Compensation was awarded and the land was subsequently handed over to Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited. At the time of acquisition, the petitioner and her siblings were minors. The petitioner's father had registered his name for employment in the Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited. However, no appointment order was issued to him.
3. Subsequently, the petitioner had registered her name in the District Employment Office, Cuddalore, on 03.08.1989. Thereafter, upon attaining majority, the petitioner's father made a representation seeking to substitute the petitioner's name in his place in the employment register maintained by the Corporation on 03.11.1998. The Special Deputy Collector (Land Acquisition), Neyveli, had recommended the petitioner's name for employment on 06.11.1998. Despite the said recommendation, no employment was given to the petitioner. The petitioner's father passed away on 16.09.2003. Thereafter, the petitioner made several representations to the respondents seeking employment based on the land acquisition. However, the same were not considered. Ultimately, by
proceedings dated 15.06.2024, the 2nd respondent rejected the petitioner's request for employment on the ground that employment had already been provided to persons whose lands were acquired up to 30.06.1989. Challenging the said rejection order, the present writ petition has been filed.
4. Heard the learned counsels on either side and perused the materials available on record.
5. From a perusal of the records, it is seen that the lands of the petitioner's father, Vaithiyalingam had been acquired as early as in the year 1979 for which compensation had also been paid. The petitioner's father had registered his name for employment in the Neyveli Lignite Corporation but he has not been given any appointment order. It appears that the petitioner herself registered her name in the District Employment Office, Cuddalore on 03.08.1989 after completing her 8th standard. Her father made an application on 03.11.1998 to incorporate her name in his place but however there are no details as to when he had originally registered his name. Be that as it may, the lands were acquired as early in
the year 1979. The petitioner, having kept quiet from the year 1998 to date, has approached this Court after a lapse of over 28 years and no explanation has been given for such delay and laches. In these circumstances, this Court finds no reason to interfere with the impugned order passed by the 2nd respondent. Accordingly, this writ petition is dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
01-04-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order SRN To
1. The District Collector O/o the District Collector, Cuddalore District
2. The General Manager HR Department, PRO building,NLCIL, Neyveli Post, Cuddalore 607 807
3. The General Manager (Land Department) Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited, Neyveli Post,Cuddalore 607 807
4. The Special Deputy Collector ( Land Acquisition) O/o the Special Tahsildar, Neyvili Post, Cuddalore District
P.T.ASHA J.
SRN AND WMP NO. 13340 OF 2026 01-04-2026