G.Doss v. The Chief Secretary
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 16.09.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN G.Doss ... Petitioner Vs.
1. The Chief Secretary to the State of Tamilnadu, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.
2. The District Collector, District Collector Office, Thiruvallur, Thiruvallur District.
3. The Tahsildar, Madhavaram Taluk Office, Madhavaram, Thiruvallur District - 600 051.
4. The Special Tahsildar, Land Acquisition, Saidapet Taluk Office, Aromatic Complex, Saidapet, Chennai - 600 015.
5. M/s.Tamilnadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd., Rep. by its Chairman and Managing Director, No.19-A, Rukmani Lakshmipathy Road, Egmore, Chennai - 600 008.
... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, quashing the order in Na.Ka.247/2014 dated 21.12.2018 passed by the fourth respondent and consequently directing to the respondents to return the petitioner's lands of an extent of 12 cents comprised in S.F.No.190/1B2B5 situated at Mathur Village, Madhavaram Taluk, Thiruvallur which was taken under the Land Acquisition Act by the fourth respondent, by considering the petitioner's representation dated 24.10.2018. For Petitioner : Mr.K.Gowthaman For Respondents: Mr.N.Naveen Kumar, Government Advocate (for R1 to R4) Mr.Abishek Murthy, Standing Counsel (for R5)
O R D E R
This Writ Petition has been filed challenging the order dated 21.12.2018 passed by the fourth respondent, thereby rejecting the request made by the petitioner for re-conveyance of the subject land.
2. Heard the learned counsel for both sides and perused the materials available on record.
3. Originally, the petitioner owned the land comprised in S.F.No.190/1B2B5 to an extent of 12 cents situated at Mathur Village, Madhavaram Taluk, Thiruvallur District. He derived title over the said property on payment of consideration through the State of Tamil Nadu. Thereafter, the Government of Tamil Nadu acquired several acres of land from several private parties under the Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Act, 1961, and distributed the abovementioned acres of land to several individual persons by receiving appropriate and valuable consideration. Subsequently, the patta issued in favour of the petitioner was cancelled and allotted in favour of AROCHEM Company. Therefore, the petitioner submitted a representation for reconveyance of the said land, which was rejected.
4. On perusal of the counter-affidavit filed by the fourth respondent and the submission made by the learned Government Advocate appearing for the first to fourth respondents, it is revealed that the Government, by its order in G.O.Ms.No.648, Industries (MID-I) Department, dated 16.09.1989, sanctioned the acquisition of lands admeasuring an extent of 1655.92 acres in Manali, Vaikkadu, Amullavoyal, Mathur, Kosappur, and Elanthancheri villages of Madhavaram and Thiruvottiyur Taluk for setting up an Aromatic Complex and other petro-based downstream projects close to Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.
5. Accordingly, the petitioner's land was acquired as surplus land under the Land Reforms Act and assigned to various individuals by the authorized officer by order dated 19.10.1976. Based on the Government Order in G.O.Ms.No.648, Industries (MID-I) Department, dated 16.09.1989, a Section 4(1) notification was published to acquire the lands, including the petitioner's land. Thereafter, a Section 7 notice was issued to the petitioner for an enquiry, and he attended the enquiry and
made his statement on 10.03.1993. Only then did it come to notice that the petitioner had been issued only an assignment patta by the Additional Commissioner (Land Reforms), Villupuram.
6. The subject land was taken over as surplus land and also notified for acquisition under the urgency clause of the Land Acquisition Act. Thereafter, the proposal was approved, and a withdrawal notification was published regarding the land acquisition on 08.09.1993. Subsequently, the Assistant Commissioner (Land Reforms), Villupuram initiated a proposal to cancel the assignment made to individuals and resumed the land. Thereafter, it was forwarded for assigning the land for the Aromatic Project to transfer the land to the Industries Department. Therefore, the petitioner's representation dated 26.10.2018 for reconveyance of the said land could not be considered, and the request made by the petitioner was rightly rejected. In view of the above, this Court does not find any merit in the writ petition.
7. In the result, this Writ Petition is dismissed. No costs. 16.09.2025 Index : Yes/No : Yes/No Speaking/non-speaking order kv To
1. The Chief Secretary to the State of Tamilnadu, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.
2. The District Collector, District Collector Office, Thiruvallur, Thiruvallur District.
3. The Tahsildar, Madhavaram Taluk Office, Madhavaram, Thiruvallur District - 600 051.
4. The Special Tahsildar, Land Acquisition, Saidapet Taluk Office, Aromatic Complex, Saidapet, Chennai - 600 015.
5. M/s.Tamilnadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd., Rep. by its Chairman and Managing Director, No.19-A, Rukmani Lakshmipathy Road, Egmore, Chennai - 600 008.
G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.
kv 16.09.2025