S.Raghavan v. The District Registrar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 29.03.2023

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.S. RAMESH S.Raghavan

...Petitioner

Vs 1.The District Registrar, North Madras District Registration Department, Kuralagam, Chennai.

2.K.M.Devaraj 3.P.Ganesan

...Respondents

PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondent authority to consider the petitioner's representation dated 26.10.2022. For Petitioner : Mr.M.Aswin For R1 : Mr.R.P.Murugan Raja, Government Advocate

ORDER

Heard Mr.M.Aswin, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr.R.P.Murugan Raja, learned Government Advocate appearing for the first respondent.

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2. Since this Court is directing the first respondent to consider the petitioner's representation, after giving due notice and opportunity to respondents 2 and 3, notice to respondents 2 and 3 is hereby dispensed with.

3. The petitioner had given a representation dated 26.10.2022 to the first respondent seeking for cancellation of the registered sale deed. Since the said representation was not considered, the present Writ Petition has been filed.

4. It is needless to point out that whenever a representation of this nature is made to a Statutory Authority, there is a duty cast upon the respondents to consider the same on its own merits and pass appropriate orders in one way or other, instead of keeping the same pending indefinitely. As such, non-consideration of the representation by the Statutory Authority would amount to dereliction of duty and hence, this Court will be justified in invoking its extraordinary powers under Article 226 of Constitution of India and direct them to consider the same within a stipulated time.

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5.In the light of the above observations, there shall be a direction to the first respondent herein to consider the petitioner's representation dated 26.10.2022, in accordance with the procedure contemplated under Section 77A of the Registration Act, after giving due opportunity to the persons, who had executed the sale deed, as well as the beneficiaries and the witnesses to the deed of conveyance and any other persons who may be interested in the subject property, within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 6.It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any of its views with regard to the merits of the claim made by the petitioner and that it is open to the concerned respondent to consider the same on its own merits. 7.With the above direction, the Writ Petition stands ordered. No costs.

29.03.2023 Index:Yes/No Speaking order/Non-speaking order vga 3/4

M.S.RAMESH,J.

vga To The District Registrar, North Madras District Registration Department, Kuralagam, Chennai.

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