S.Iyyapan v. The Secretary To Government

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 30-06-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN and WMP No.6196 of 2026 S.Iyyapan ..Petitioner(s) Vs

1. The Secretary to Government Aadi Dravidar Welfare and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department Chief Secretariat, Goubert Avenue, White Town, Puducherry 605 001

2. The Director Aadi Dravidar Welfare and Schedule Tribes Welfare Department, Government of Puducherry, Kamaraj Salai, Thattanchavady, Puducherry 605 009

3. Rajavelu M.L.A Service though Secretary, Puducherry Legislative Assembly Puducherry ..Respondent(s) Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of mandamus directing the 2nd respondent to issue house site patta to all eligible persons belonging to SC Community of Kariyamanikampet Colony on the basis of the petitioner's representation dated 08.07.2025 and 06.08.2025.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr. M.Gnanasekar for Mr. M.N.Kathir For Respondent(s):

Mr. V.Vasanthakumar Additional Government Pleader (Puducherry) for R1 and R2.

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by The Chief Justice) This Public Interest Litigation seeks for a writ of mandamus directing the second respondent to issue house site patta to all eligible persons belonging to SC Community of Kariyamanikampet Colony on the basis of the petitioner's representation dated 08.07.2025 and 06.08.2025.

2. The allegation of the petitioner is that applications for issuance of pattas are received only after the acknowledgement made by the third respondent, who is a local MLA.

3. The second respondent in their counter affidavit in para 5 has stated as under:- "5. 1 submit that the Form in which a landless person may apply to the 2nd Respondent for grant of a free housesite patta under the 'Puducherry House-Sites/Houses Allotment (Under the Scheme of Provision of House-Sites/Houses to Scheduled Castes) Rules 1981', is a statutory form as prescribed in Rule 6(i) thereunder, and appended to the Rules as Form-l. These forms are supplied

on request to public at free of cost from the office of the 2nd Respondent. Besides, public may also obtain these forms directly from the Welfare Inspector in charge of the particular constituency at free of cost without having to visit the office of the 2nd Respondent. An application received by the 2nd Respondent in any other form other than Form-I prescribed in the Rules is ab initio void and liable to be rejected. Therefore, the contention of the Writ Petitioner that anyone other than the 2nd Respondent has issued such forms, and his further contention that applications received in forms other than Form-I are being accepted by the 2nd Respondent, are completely false, misleading, and fanciful."

4. On perusal of the counter affidavit, it is clear that only statutory applications, which are received in accordance with law are being processed and therefore, the allegation of the petitioner is completely false and misconceived.

5. Recording the above statement, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs. The connected miscellaneous petition is closed. (SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, C.J.) (G.ARUL MURUGAN J.) 30-06-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order ssk

To

1. The Secretary to Government Aadi Dravidar Welfare and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department, Chief Secretariat, Goubert Avenue, White Town, Puducherry 605 001

2. The Director Aadi Dravidar Welfare and schedule Tribes Welfare Department, Government of Puducherry, Kamaraj Salai, Thattanchavady, Puducherry 605 009

SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, C.J.

AND G.ARUL MURUGAN, J.

ssk 30-06-2026