R.Palanisamy v. The State Of Tamil Nadu

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 02.04.2026 CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR. SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN WP No.12066 of 2026 and WMP N o .13167 of R.Palanisamy S/o. Late Rangasamy, No.9, Bajanai Koil Street, Melapalayam, Pooluvapatti Post, Coimbatore District -641 101.

Petitioner(s) Vs

1. The State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its the Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.

2. The Additional Chief Secretary/ Commissioner of Land Reforms, Commissionerate of Land Reforms, Ezhilagam, Chennai-600 005.

3. Tamil Nadu State Bhoodan Board, Rep. By its Member Secretary, Ezhilagam, Chennai-600 005.

4. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Forest Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.

5. The District Collector Collectorate Office, State Bank Road, Coimbatore Central, Coimbatore District -641 018.

6. The District Revenue Officer Collectorate Office, State Bank Road, Coimbatore Central, Coimbatore District -641 018

7. The Tahsildar Perur Taluk Office, Siruvani Main Road, Perur Coimbatore - 641 010.

Respondent(s) PRAYER : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus directing 3rd and 4th respondents to preserve and protect the agricultural lands comprised in S.Nos.469/2, 462/2, 464/1 and 465/1 Pooluvapatti Village, Perur, Taluk, Coimbatore South Zone, Coimbatore District covered under the Bhoomidhan Scheme of the Tamil Nadu Bhoodan Yagna Act, 1858 so as to restrain the conversion of the subject lands into Housing Plots considering the petitioner's representation dated 23.02.2026. For Petitioner(s):

Mrs. Karthikaa Ashok For Respondent(s):Mrs. E.Ranganayaki Additional Government Pleader

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) This petition, styled as public interest litigation, seeks issuance of a writ of mandamus to direct respondent Nos.3 and 4 to preserve and protect the agricultural lands comprised in S.Nos.469/2, 462/2, 464/1 and 465/1, Pooluvapatti Village, Perur, Taluk, Coimbatore South Zone, Coimbatore District, covered under the Bhoomidhan Scheme of the Tamil Nadu Bhoodan Yagna Act, 1858, so as to restrain the conversion of the subject lands into Housing Plots, considering the petitioner's representation dated 23.02.2026.

2. The case of the petitioner is that the lands comprised in the aforesaid survey numbers are covered under the Tamil Nadu Bhooda Yagna Act and are classified as Punjai Lands in the revenue records. It is further stated that the said area can be termed as a buffer zone as it acts as a gap between the habitat

for animals and humans. However, it is alleged that the respondent authorities are plotting the said land for residential purpose. Airing his grievance against such conversion of lands, the petitioner sent a representation on 30.1.2026. As the said representation did not evoke any response, the present writ petition is filed.

3. A bare perusal of the said representation makes it clear that the petitioner along with others is cultivating the Bhoodan lands. That apart, the categoric averment in the petition discloses that land of an extent of 0.60 acres comprised in Survey No.465/1, one among the aforesaid survey numbers, was allotted to the petitioner's father and they were cultivating the said lands.

4. At this juncture, it is apposite to note that the Rules to Regulate the Public Interest Litigations filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India postulate that "Every PIL must indicate that the petitioner has no personal interest in the case". The plea

raised by the petitioner in the averments as well as the representation makes it explicitly clear that this is a private interest litigation and by no stretch of imagination could be construed as public interest litigation.

5. Qua the plea that the said lands fall in the buffer zone which provides the gap between the habitat for animals and humans, we see that though pleadings have been raised, they are not supported by any evidence or documentary proof. It is well settled law that while deciding a writ petition on the basis of affidavits, the writ court's enquiry ought to be restricted to the case pleaded by the parties and the evidence that they have placed on record as part of the writ petition or the counter/reply affidavit, as the case may be. Findings of the court have to be based on the pleadings and the evidence produced before it by the parties. Nothing has been placed on record by the petitioner to substantiate the said plea that the said lands fall under the buffer zone or that the said land is notified as such.

The writ petition is devoid of merits and is, accordingly, dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, interim application stands closed.

(SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI,CJ) (G.ARUL MURUGAN,J) 02.04.2026 Index :

Yes/No :

Yes/No sasi

To:

1. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, State of Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.

2. The Additional Chief Secretary/ Commissioner of Land Reforms, Commissionerate of Land Reforms, Ezhilagam, Chennai-600 005.

3. The Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Bhoodan Board, Ezhilagam, Chennai-600 005.

4. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Forest Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.

5. The District Collector Collectorate Office, State Bank Road, Coimbatore Central, Coimbatore District -641 018.

6. The District Revenue Officer Collectorate Office, State Bank Road, Coimbatore Central, Coimbatore District -641 018

7. The Tahsildar Perur Taluk Office, Siruvani Main Road, Perur Coimbatore - 641 010.

THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND G.ARUL MURUGAN,J.

(sasi) WP No.12066 of 2026 02.04.2026