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Madras High CourtWP/22119/2025disposed of

L.Saravanakumar v. The District Collector

2025-06-23Honourable Mr Justice N. Anand Venkatesh6 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 23.06.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESH L.Saravanakumar .. Petitioner Vs.

1.The District Collector Collectorate, Coimbatore 2.The Thasildhar Perur Taluk Taluk Office Coimbatore District .. Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ of certiorarified mandamus calling for the records in online application TN-7202402151403 on the file of the 2 nd respondent and to quash the oder dated 15.02.2024 and to direct the respondents 1, 2 to issue legal heirship certificate to petitioner on the basis of Lok Adalat award dated 21.06.2019 passed by the Coimbatore District Legal Services Authority within time as stipulated by this Court.

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For Petitioner : Mr.M.Saravanakumar For Respondents : Mr.R.Neelakandan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.G.Velu Additional Government Pleader

O R D E R

This writ petition has been filed challenging the online rejection order of the nd respondent dated 15.02.2024 and for a direction to the respondents to issue Legal Heirship Certificate to the petitioner on the basis of the Lok Adalat Award dated 21.06.2019 passed by the Coimbatore District Legal Services Authority. 2 . Heard both sides and perused the materials placed on record.

3. The case of the petitioner is that his father Lakshmanan, S/o.Raman, died in the year 1998, leaving behind the petitioner, his mother and his brother Vignesh. A suit was filed before the competent civil Court to declare the legal heirs of the deceased Lakshmanan and the matter was referred to the Lok Adalat and the 2/6

Lok Adalat, through an award dated 21.06.2019, declared that the petitioner, his mother and his brother are the legal heirs of the deceased person Lakshmanan, who died on 20.05.1998.

4. After the above award was passed, the petitioner seems to have approached the 2 nd respondent and sought for Legal Heirship Certificate. The same has been rejected through the impugned online communication dated 15.02.2024. Aggrieved by the same, the present writ petition has been filed before this Court.

5. The Legal Heirship Certificate that is issued by the revenue authorities is more in the nature of relationship certificate and it is not a declaration made by the revenue authorities regarding their status as legal heirs. Hence, it is only a competent civil Court which can make such a declaration and in the instant case, the suit filed by the petitioner ended before Lok Adalat, where, the petitioner, his mother and brother were declared as legal heirs. Once such award is passed, that 3/6

by itself, is a declaration regarding the status of the petitioner and it is quite incomprehensible as to why the petitioner approached the revenue authorities and sought for a Legal Heirship Certificate. It is even more curious that the 2 nd respondent has rejected the application for Legal Heirship Certificate, in spite of the Lok Adalat Award passed on 21.06.2019.

6. This Court finds that there is a mistake both on the part of the petitioner as well as the 2 nd respondent. There was no need for the petitioner to go before the Tahsildar and seek for Legal Heirship Certificate, after the Lok Adalat Award was passed. There was no need for the 2 nd respondent to reject the application, without taking into consideration the Lok Adalat Award passed. In sum, it was a complete waste of time for the petitioner to approach the 2 nd respondent and the nd respondent to have reacted to the application without considering the Award passed by the Lok Adalat.

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7. The status of the petitioner has already been declared by the competent civil Court and therefore, there is no need for the 2 nd respondent to once again reiterate the same by issuing a Legal Heirship Certificate. The Lok Adalat Award itself recognised the status of the petitioner. It is not necessary for the revenue authority to give his stamp of approval for the Lok Adalat Award which has already been passed. This clarity will sufficiently take care of the grievance of the petitioner.

This writ petition is disposed of on the above terms. No costs. 23.06.2025 (2/2) Index : Yes/No gya 5/6

N. ANA ND VENKATESH , J.

gya To 1.The District Collector Collectorate, Coimbatore 2.The Thasildhar Perur Taluk Taluk Office Coimbatore District 23.06.2025 (2/2) 6/6