Vedaranyam Nagara Pattanamanai Kudiruppor v. The Secretary To The Government
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 18-03-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI W.P. No. 10855 of 2026 and W.M.P.Nos.11801 and 11805 of 2026 Vedaranyam Nagara Pattanamanai Kudiruppor (Abubavatharar) Nala Sangam, Vedaranyam, Rep by its Secretary, G.Sankaravadivel, S/o.T.Gopalasamy Pillai, Door No.50/19, South Street, Vedaranyam Town and Taluk, Nagapattinam District.
..Petitioner(s) Vs
1. The Secretary to the Government Fort St.George, Chennai-600 009.
2. The Secretary to the Government Revenue Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-600 009.
3. The Commissioner for Land Administration Ezhilagam, Chennai- 600 006.
4. The Settlement Officer (Inam Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari), Land Revenue Scheme Officer, Ezhilagam,Chepauk, Chennai- 600 006.
5. The Commissioner Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai-034.
6. The District Collector Office of the Collectorate, Nagapattinam, Nagappatinam District.
7. The Tahsildar Vedaranyam Taluk, Vedaranyam Town and Taluk, Nagappatinam District.
8. The Joint Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Nagappatinam, Nagappatinam District.
9. The Executive Officer Vedaranyeswaraswamy Devasdanam, Vedaranayam Town and Taluk, Nagappatinam District.
..Respondent(s) PRAYER: The Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for the issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records in relates to the order passed by the 4th respondent in Na.Ka.Oo.2/ 3595/ 2022, dated 9.1.2026, and quash the same and consequently directing the respondents to issue absolute pattas to the members of the petitioners
Association by extending their buildings stands in Vedaranyam Pattanam Village, Vedaranyam Town and Taluk, Nagapattinam District. For Petitioner(s):
Mr.V.Kasinatha Bharathi For Respondent(s):
Mr.N.R.Arun Natarajan Special Government Pleader for R1, R5 and R8 Mr. D. Ravichander Special Government Pleader for R2, R3, R4, R6 and R7
ORDER
The present Writ Petition has been filed seeking Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the order passed by the 4th respondent in Na.Ka.Oo.2/ 3595/ 2022, dated 9.1.2026, and quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to issue absolute pattas to the members of the petitioners Association by extending their buildings situated in Vedaranyam Pattanam Village, Vedaranyam Town and Taluk, Nagapattinam District.
2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that the members of the petitioner are in occupation of land in Survey No.175/3A1A1A1A . Originally, the land was Ryothwari land, which was taken over by the Government under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Inam Estates (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1963 (Act 26 of 1963). By virtue
of the said Act, the entire inam land was vested with the Government. However, the respondent Temple did not make any application for grant of Ryotwari patta in its name. Subsequently, certain individuals filed claim petitions before the Settlement Officer seeking Ryotwari patta, but, the patta was granted only in respect of the superstructure.
3. Thereafter, the very same individuals filed a Writ Petition before this Court seeking patta, which was allowed and the same was confirmed by the Division Bench in W.A.No.1372 of 1992 reported in 2003 - 1 - L.W. 663. Following the same, one Uma and others submitted a claim petition dated 16.05.2022, relying upon the orders passed in W.P.No.5143 of 2012 and W.A.No.1743 of 2012. However, the same was rejected by the respondents. Challenging the same, the present Writ Petition has been filed.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioners further submitted that the patta has already been granted in favour of the petitioners in respect of the superstructure. However, no patta has been issued for the underlying land (Adimanai). The rejection of their application for issuance of patta for the land is unsustainable. Hence, he prayed for appropriate relief.
5. Per contra, the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents submitted that similarly placed persons had earlier filed Writ Petitions in W.P.Nos.30783 of 2018 and 3836 of 2024, which were dismissed by this Court on 04.06.2024 and 19.03.2024, respectively. Hence, the said orders have attained finality. Therefore, no interference is warranted with the impugned order.
6. It was further contended that if at the petitioners have any grievance, the appropriate remedy lies before the competent Civil Court as against the Temple and not under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. Moreover, the present Writ Petition has been filed by an Association and not by the individual aggrieved parties, which is not maintainable. Hence, he sought dismissal of the Writ Petition.
7. In view of the foregoing discussion and having regard to the fact that (i) the issue raised in the present Writ Petition is squarely covered by earlier orders of this Court, which have attained finality, (ii) the petitioners have an effective and efficacious alternative remedy before the competent Civil Court for adjudication of their rights over the subject property, and (iii) the present Writ Petition, having been filed by the Association and not by the individual
aggrieved parties, is not maintainable, this Court is not inclined to interfere with the impugned order passed by the 4th respondent.
8. Accordingly, this Writ Petition stands dismissed. However, liberty is granted to the individual members of the petitioner Association to work out their remedies before the competent forum in the manner known to law. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.
18-03-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Asi To
1. The Secretary to the Government Fort St.George, Chennai-600 009.
2. The Secretary to the Government Revenue Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-600 009.
3. The Commissioner for Land Administration Ezhilagam, Chennai- 600 006.
4. The Settlement Officer (Inam Abolition and Conversion in to Ryotwari), Land Revenue Scheme Officer, Ezhilagam,Chepauk, Chennai- 600 006.
5. The Commissioner Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai-034.
6. The District Collector Office of the Collectorate, Nagapattinam, Nagappatinam District.
7. The Tahsildar Vedaranyam Taluk, Vedaranyam Town and Taluk, Nagappatinam District.
8. The Joint Commissioner Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Nagappatinam, Nagappatinam District.
9. The Executive Officer Vedaranyeswaraswamy Devasdanam, Vedaranayam Town and Taluk, Nagappatinam District.
M.DHANDAPANI, J.
Asi W.P. No. 10855 of 2026 and W.M.P.Nos.11801 and 11805 of 2026 18-03-2026