Sankari Seetharaman v. The Secretary To Government Of Tamilnadu
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 02.04.2026 CORAM :
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE 1.Sankari Seetharaman ... Petitioner in W.P.No.12181 of 2026 2.S.Valavan 3.S.Chezhian ... Petitioners in W.P.No.12184 of 2026 Vs.
1.The Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu, Revenue Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 005.
2.The Commissioner of Urban Land Ceiling and Tax, Ezhilagam, Kamarajar Salai, Chepauk, Chennai - 600 005.
3.The Assistant Commissioner of Urban Land Ceiling and Tax, No.153, Karuneegar Street, Adambakkam, Chennai - 600 088.
4.The Tahsildar, Sholinganallur Taluk, Sholinganallur, Chennai.
... Respondents Page No.1 of 9
Prayer in W.P.No.12181 of 2026 : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the entire records pertaining to the impugned order of the 3rd respondent dated 05.02.2026 in O.M.No.C/965/2025 and the quash the same and consequently direct the 3rd respondent herein to issue "No Objection Certificate" to the petitioner herein pursuant to the petitioner's application in C/965/2025 and further direct the 4th respondent to carry out mutation of revenue records with respect to the petitioner's Plot No.108 measuring an extent of 2,400 sq.ft. comprised in S.No.105/108 (Old S.No.105/2) of Madipakkam Village, Sholinganallur Taluk, Chennai District and grant patta in the name of the petitioner herein.
Prayer in W.P.No.12184 of 2026 : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the entire records pertaining to the impugned order of the 3rd respondent dated 05.02.2026 in O.M.No.(C)/1512/2025 and the quash the same and consequently direct the 3rd respondent herein to issue No Objection Certificate to the petitioner herein pursuant to the petitioners application in C/1512/2025 and further direct the 4th respondent to carry out mutation of revenue records with respect to the petitioner's Plot No.67 measuring an extent of 2,400 sq.ft. comprised in S.No.105/2 situated at Madipakkam Village, Sholinganallur Taluk, Chennai District and grant patta in the name of the petitioner herein. For Petitioners (in both WPs) : Mr.Sengottuvel Senior Counsel for M/s.
K.R.Nishanth For Respondents (in both WPs) : Mr.D.Ravichander Special Government Pleader ***** COMMON ORDER These Writ Petitions have been filed challenging the impugned orders, dated 05.02.2026 passed by the 3rd respondent in both the writ Page No.
petitions, rejecting the representation of the respective petitioners seeking issuance of 'No Objection Certificate' for regularization of lands on the ground that the writ petitions in W.P.Nos.18333 of 2019 and 4862 of 2025 are pending on the file of the Madras High Court pertaining to the very same issue.
2. Mr.D.Ravichander, learned Special Government Pleader, accepts notice on behalf of the respondents in both the writ petitions.
3. The respective petitioners categorically contend that the possession of the lands were never taken by the respondents under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976. In fact, the association representing the interest of the petitioners, namely Madipakkam North East Residents' Welfare Association, had filed writ petitions in W.P.Nos.18333 of 2019 and 4862 of 2025 before this Court raising the very same ground that have been raised by the petitioners herein in these writ petitions. By order, dated 01.04.2025 passed in W.P.Nos.18333 of 2019 and 4862 of 2025, it was declared by this Court that the land acquisition proceedings initiated under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Page No.3 of 9
Regulation) Act by the respondents for the very same lands has got lapsed on the coming into force of Section 4 of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act. It has also been held in the order dated 01.04.2025 passed in W.P.Nos.18333 of 2019 and 4862 of 2025 that there is absolutely no material to show that the owners have handed over the possession of the subject property or forcibly possession was taken over by the authorities. Only after rendering the aforesaid findings, the learned Single Judge of this Court had allowed the writ petitions in W.P.Nos.18333 of 2019 and 4862 of 2025 filed by Madipakkam North East Residents' Welfare Association, in which, the petitioners herein are also members.
4. In view of the allowing of the writ petitions in W.P.Nos.18333 of 2019 and 4862 of 2025 by this Court, by order, dated 01.04.2025, necessarily, the impugned orders passed by the 3rd respondent, dated 05.02.2026 have to be quashed.
5. It is brought to the notice of this Court by the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents that a writ appeal has Page No.4 of 9
been filed as against the order dated 01.04.2025 passed in W.P.Nos.18333 of 2019 and 4862 of 2025 and the same is yet to be numbered. However, as on date, since the writ petitions has been allowed and there is no writ appeal pending and there is no interim stay of operation of the order passed by the learned Single Judge of this Court granted by the Division Bench of this Court, the relief sought in these writ petitions have to be granted by quashing the impugned orders passed by the 3rd respondent and remanding the matters back to the 3rd respondent for fresh consideration in the light of the order, dated 01.04.2025 passed by the learned Single Judge of this Court in W.P.Nos.18333 of 2019 and 4862 of 2025 filed by Madipakkam North East Residents' Welfare Association.
6. In view of the order, dated 01.04.2025 passed by this Court in W.P.Nos.18333 of 2019 and 4862 of 2025, wherein this Court had declared that the land acquisition proceedings against the subject lands has got lapsed, the impugned orders, dated 05.02.2026 passed by the 3rd respondent in these writ petitions are quashed and the matters are remanded back to the 3rd respondent for fresh consideration on merits and in accordance with law. The 3rd respondent is directed to consider the Page No.5 of 9
representation of the respective petitioners seeking issuance of 'No Objection Certificate' in the light of the order, dated 01.04.2025 passed by this Court in W.P.Nos.18333 of 2019 and 4862 of 2025, which is filed by Madipakkam North East Residents' Welfare Association, in which, the respective petitioners are members, within a period of four (4) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
7. In the above terms, these writ petitions are disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.
02.04.2026 Index : Yes / No (1⁄2) Speaking order / Non-speaking order sp Page No.6 of 9
To 1.The Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu, Revenue Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 005.
2.The Commissioner of Urban Land Ceiling and Tax, Ezhilagam, Kamarajar Salai, Chepauk, Chennai - 600 005.
3.The Assistant Commissioner of Urban Land Ceiling and Tax, No.153, Karuneegar Street, Adambakkam, Chennai - 600 088.
4.The Tahsildar, Sholinganallur Taluk, Sholinganallur, Chennai.
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ABDUL QUDDHOSE, J.
sp 02.04.2026 (1⁄2) Page No.8 of 9
W.M.P.No.13283 of 2026 in W.P.No.12184 of 2026 ABDUL QUDDHOSE, J.
Ordered on payment of separate court fee.
02.04.2026 sp (2/2) Page No.9 of 9