V.Thangavelu, v. The Tahsildar,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 31.03.2021 CORAM : JUSTICE N.SESHASAYEE W.P.Nos.12200, 12213, 12220, 12225, 12230 & 12233 & 19933 of 2020 and WMP.Nos.14941, 14966, 14976, 14984, 14989 & 24608 of 2020 1.V.Thangavelu 2.N.Lakshmi 3.M.Mallika 4.M.Revathy 5.M.Bhavani 6.M.Sundaramurthy 7.P.Elumalai 8.P.Rajasekran 9.M.Ramamurthy 10.R.Angammal 11.N.Deventhiran 12.D.Shanthi 13.V.Grace Bella Baby 14.P.Athiappan 15.K.Sheikd Abdullah 16.M.Anjalai 17.Thenmozhi 18.Kanimozhi 19.S.Gopi 20.R.Devaki 21.R.Karthickeyan 22.R.Sakthivel 23.R.Vanichitra

...Petitioners1 to 23 in

WP.No.12200 of 2020 1.E.M.Rangaiah

2. M.Murali

3. V.Aranganathan

4. T.Dhanalakshmi

...Petitioners1 to 4 in

WP.No.12213 of 2020 1 S.Sivakumar, S/o. Subramani, Plot No.80(part), 3rd Street, Sri Lakshmi Nagar, Alwarthiru Nagar, Chennai -87.

2 N.Deventhiran, S/o. Narayanasamy, Plot No.78, 3rd Street, Sri Lakshmi Nagar, Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87.

3 D.Shanthi W/o. N.Deventhiran, Plot No.78, 3rd Street Sri Lakshmi Nagar, Alwarthiru Nagar, Chennai -87.

4 G.Malar W/o. Late V.Ganesan 5 G.Anitha D/0. Late V.Ganesan 6 G.Kirubanithi D/o. Late V.Ganesan Petitioners 4, 5 & 6 at :- Plot No.74(part), 2nd Main Road, Sri Lakshmi Nagar, Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai - 600 08787.

7 S.Gunaseelan S/o. Subramania Nadar, Plot No.5(Southern portion), 3rd Main Road, Sri Lakshmi Nagar, Alwarthiru Nagar, Chennai -87.

8 S.Navaneethakrishnan S/o. Subramania Nadar, Plot No.5(Northern portion), 3rd Main Road, Sri Lakshmi Nagar Alwarthiru Nagar, Chennai -87.

9 V.Dass S/o. K.Vedachalam, Plot No.148, 2nd Main Road, Sri Lakshmi Nagar, Alwarthiru Nagar, Chennai -87.

10 N.Lakshmi, W/o. E.Natarajan, Plot No.55(Part), 3rd Street, Sri Lakshmi Nagar, Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87.

11 M.K.Narayanan, S/o. Late A.Muthu Irulappa Pillai, Plot No. 4, 3rd Main Road, Sri Lakshmi Nagar, Alwarthiru Nagar, Chennai -87.

12 A.Vivekananda, S/o. A.Vijaya Bhaskar, Plot No.9 3rd Main Road Sri Lakshmi Nagar, Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87.

13 G.Dhanalakshmi, W/o. S.R.Gopalakrishnan, Plot No.83 2nd Street, Sri Lakshmi Nagar, Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87.

... Petitioners in WP.No.12220 of 1 J.Manjula W/o. D.Jayabalan, Plot No.174(part), 1st Main Road, Sri Lakshmi Nagar, Alwarthiru Nagar, Chennai -87.

2 K.Padmini W/o. Uvendran Plot No.174(part) 1st Main Road, Sri Lakshmi Nagar, Alwarthiru Nagar, Chennai -87.

3 N.Sumathi W/o. Nagupandiyan, Plot No.171 and 172 1st Main Road Sri Lakshmi Nagar, Alwarthiru Nagar, Chennai -87.

4 T.Ayyanar S/o. Late M.Thangavel, Plot No.111, 3rd Main Road, Sri Lakshmi Nagar Alwarthiru Nagar, Chennai -87.

5 T.Vinayakamurthy S/o.Late M.Thangavel, Plot No.111, 3rd Main Road Sri Lakshmi Nagar Alwarthiru Nagar, Chennai -87.

6 T.Parvathy W/o. Late M.Thangavel, Plot No.111 3rd Main Road, Sri Lakshmi Nagar, Alwarthiru Nagar, Chennai -87.

7 Latha D/o. Late M.Thangavel Plot No.111 3rd Main Road, Sri Lakshmi Nagar, Alwarthiru Nagar, Chennai -87.

8 J.Seeniyammal W/o. Late S.Jayamani, Plot No.14 4th Street, Sri Lakshmi Nagar, Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87.

9 J.Senthil S/o.Late S.Jayamani, Plot No.14, 4th Street, Sri Lakshmi Nagar, Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87.

10 J.Shobana D/o.Late S.Jayamani Plot No.14 4th Street, Sri Lakshmi Nagar Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87.

11 B.Babu S/o.Balaiah Plot No.130(part) 1st Street Sri Lakshmi Nagar Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87.

12 S.Venkatesan S/o.Srinivasan Plot No.106 2nd Street Sri Lakshmi Nagar Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai - 87.

13 S.Rajan S/o.Srinivasan Plot No.107 2nd Street, Sri Lakshmi Nagar Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87.

14 N.I.P.Balu S/o. Iyyam Perumal Plot No.6(part) 3rd Main Road Sri Lakshmi Nagar Alwarthiru Nagar, Chennai -87.

.... Petitioners in WP.12225 of 2020 1 V.Lakshmi W/o. Late M.Venkatesan Plot No.182(part) 1st Main Road Sri Lakshmi Nagar Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87.

2 K.Maheswari D/o. Late M.Venkatesan Plot No.182(part) 1st Main Road Sri Lakshmi Nagar Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87.

3 Malarvizhi D/o. Late M.Venkatesan Plot No.182(part) 1st Main Road Sri Lakshmi Nagar Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87.

4 S.Marial W/o. Late C.Sambasivan Plot No.43 4th Street Sri Lakshmi Nagar Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87.

5 S.Rooby Helen W/o. Late C.Sambasivan Plot No.43 4th Street Sri Lakshmi Nagar Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87.

6 S.Roselin Sheeba D/o. Late C.Sambasivan Plot No.43 4th Street Sri Lakshmi Nagar Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87.

7 R.Ramamurthy S/o. V.Renu Plot No.47(part) 3rd Main Road Sri Lakshmi Nagar Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87.

8 G.Ranga W/o. P.T.Ganesan Plot No.63(part) 3rd Street Sri Lakshmi Nagar Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87.

9 E.Muniyammal W/o. Late G.Elumalai Plot No.65(part) 3rd Street Sri Lakshmi Nagar Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87.

10 E.Uma D/o.Late G.Elumalai Plot No.65(part) 3rd Street Sri Lakshmi Nagar Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87.

11 E.Rama D/o.Late G.Elumalai Plot No.65(part) 3rd Street Sri Lakshmi Nagar Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87.

12 E.Guru S/o.Late G.Elumalai Plot No.65(part) 3rd Street Sri Lakshmi Nagar Alwarthiru Nagar Chennai -87. .... Petitioners in WP.12230 of 2020

1 S.Jaya W/o. T.Sekar Plot No.28/1 Door No.3C Bala Vinayagapuram, 2nd Street, Nerkundram Chennai -107.

... Petitioners in WP.No.12233 of 2020

1) M.Selvachithambaram 2)K.Devi 3)R.Muthulakshmi 4)M.Kannan 5)M.Thambirattiammal 6)R.B.Sahajanandham 7)R.Jabarulla 8)V.Gayathri 9)S.Indira 10)E.Murugan @ Gnanamurugan 11)P.Arun ... Petitioners in WP.19933 of 2020 Vs.

1.The Tahsildar Maduravoyal Taluk Alapakkam Chennai - 600 116.

2.The Tamil Nadu Housing Board Rep by its Managing Director 493, Anna Salai, Nandanam Chenna - 600 035.

... Respondents 1 &2 in all WPs Common Prayer : Writ Petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 1st respondent to process the petitioners' applications for patta dated 17.03.2020, 20.03.2020, 16.03.2020, 19.03.2020, 18.03.2020, 23.01.2020 and 02.12.2020 respectively and grant patta for the petitioners' plots situated in the layout called 'Sri Lakshmi Nagar', Alwarthiru Nagar, Chennai-87, comprised in Survey Nos.373/2A, 373/2B, 374/2 and 375 of Nerkundram Village, Maduravoyal Taluk, Chennai District and in Plot No.28/1 situated at Vinayagapuram 2nd Street, Chennai-600 107 measuring an extent of 600 sq.ft. Comprised in S.No.284/1A, Nerkundram Village, Maduravoyal Taluk, Chennai without insisting no-objection from the second respondent within a time frame as may be fixed by this Court. For Petitioners : Mr.K.Karthik Jagannath (in all Wps) For Respondents : Mr.E.Balamurugan Special Government Pleader [R1] (in W.P.Nos.12200, 12213 of 2020)

Mr.S.N.Parthasarathy Government Advocate [R1] (in W.P.Nos.12220, 12225 of 2020) Mrs.A.B.Reehana Begum Government Advocate [R1] (in W.P.No.12230 of 2020) Mr.G.Rajesh Government Advocate [R1] (in W.P.No.12233 of 2020) Mr.M.Manigopi Government Advocate [R1] (in W.P.No.19933 of 2020) Mr.M.Baskar Standing Counsel for R2 (in all Wps) COMMON ORDER The petitioners involved in these batch of petitions seek patta for the plots that they have purchased, from the revenue authorities.

2. The short facts are that the property in relation to which, the petitioners seeks patta are comprised in S.Nos.284/1A, 373/2A, 373/2B, 374/2 and 375 of Nerkundram Village. They were notified for acquisition under Section 4(1) sometime in 1975 and an award too came to be passed on 10.01.1986. These facts are not disputed. Be that as it may, the predecessors-in-title of the petitioners, the land owners of these properties at that relevant time when the acquisition was notified, challenged the declaration issued under sec.6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, in W.P.Nos.8370 & 8371 of 1986, on the ground that the enquiry as contemplated under Sec. 5A of the Act had not taken place. These petitions came to be allowed by this Court on 21.08.1988. It appears that despite this order, no subsequent enquiry under Sec. 5A was ever held.

In this background, the land owners had approached this Court to quash the very notification under Section 4(1) in W.P.No.18379 of 1991, and this came to be allowed by this Court on 01.07.1999. This has since become final. Subsequently, the land owners have developed the property into a layout and sold the plots to various persons including the petitioners.

W.P.No.

Petitioner Plot No. & Extent Survey No.

Details of purchase / Ownership 12200/2 1.V.Thangavelu 121(part) (Eastern portion) 600 sq.ft.

Sale Deed dated 11.03.1992 Doc.No.864/1992 Sale Deed dated 06.11.2015 Doc.No.7612/201 2.N.Lakshmi (part) (Western portion) 600 sq..ft.

3.M.Mallika 4.M.Revathy 5.M.Bhavani 6.M.Sundaramurthy (Plot purchased by Manickavelu who died intestate on 03.02.2018 and succeeded by his legal heirs, the petitioners 3 to 6 herein.

1, 1200 sq.ft.

373/ 2A Sale Deed dated 25.03.1987 Doc.No.960/1987 Settlement Deed dated 09.03.2011 Doc.No.1395/201

7. P.Elumalai 8.P.Rajasekaran 186, 3475 sq.ft.

(part) (Western portion) 600 sq.ft.

9. M.Ramamurthy

10. R.Angammal Sale Deed dated 11.02.1990 Doc.No.621/1990 11.N.Deventhiran 12.D.Shanthi Sale Deed dated 10.05.1995 Doc.No.1692/199 176(part) (Southern portion) 600 sq.ft.

Sale Deed dated 29.12.1995 Doc.No.5205/1995 13.V.Grace Bella Baby 183, 2925 sq.ft.

(part) (Western portion) 600 sq.ft.

Sale Deed dated 29.12.1995 Doc.No.5205/1995 Sale Deed dated 16.11.2001 Doc.No.5170/2001 14.P.Athiappan 15.K.Sheik Abdullah 82, 1200 sq.ft.

W.P.No .

Petitioner Plot No. & Extent Surv ey No.

Details of Purchase / Ownership 16.M.Anjalai 17.M.Thenmozhi 18.M.Kanimozhi (Plot purchased by D.Mani, who died intestate on 28.11.2012 and succeeded by his legal heirs, the petitioners 16 to 18 herein.

80 (part) (Western portion) 1120 sq.ft.

373/2 Sale Deed dated 12.04.1991 Doc.No.1229/1991 142(part) (Northern portion) 1190 sq.ft., Sale Deed dated 26.05.2016 Doc.No.350/2016 19.S.Gopi 373/2 134 (part) (Western portion) 1679 sq.ft., 373/2 Sale Deed dated 20.12.2004 Doc.No.7134/2004 20.R.Devaki 21.R.Karthickeyan 22.R.Sakthivel 23.R.Vanichitra (Plot purchased by M.R.Rose, who died intestate on 24.07.2019 and succeeded by his legal heirs, the petitioners 20 to 23 herein.

173, 2312.5 sq.ft.

374/ Sale Deed dated 10.04.2000 Doc.No.1689/2000 1.E.M.Rangaiah 12213/ 2.M.Murali 179, 2,738 sq.ft., Sale Deed dated 14.06.2004 Doc.No.3491/2004 144 (part) (Northern portion) 595 sq.ft.

3.V.Aranganathan 373/ 2B Sale Deed dated 12.07.2006 Doc.No.3833/2006 Sale Deed dated 26.06.1989 Doc.No.2483/1989 4.T.Dhanalakshmi 35, 1200 sq.ft.,

W.P.No Petitioner Plot No.& Extent Surve y No Details of purchase ownership 12220 /2020 1.S.Sivakumar 80 (part) (Eastern portion) 600 sq.ft., 373/2 Sale Deed dated 05.02.1990 Doc.No.414/1990 2.N.Deventhiran Sale Deed dated 10.11.1988 Doc.No.4695/1988 147, 1190 sq.ft..

373/2 2.N.Deventhiran 3.D.Shanthi 78, 1200 sq.ft., Sale Deed dated 01.05.1995 Doc.No.1690/1995 373/2 80 (part) (Southern portion) 600 sq.ft., 4.G.Malar 5.G.Anitha 6.G.Kirubanithi (Plot purchased by V.Ganesan, who died intestate on 09.12.2008 and succeeded by his legal heirs, the petitioners 4 to 6 herein.

Sale Deed dated 27.03.2003 Doc.No.1837/2003 373/2 373/2 Sale Deed dated 25.04.2001 Doc.No.1928/2001 5 (part) (Southern portion) 600 sq.ft., 7.S.Gunaseelan Settlement Deed dated 11.01.2008 Doc.No.166/2008 373/2 5 (part) (Northern portion) 600 sq.ft., 8.S.Navaneetha Krishnan Sale Deed dated 25.10.2004 Doc.No.6001/2004 148, 1138 sq.ft., 9.V.Dass 373/2 54 (part) (Western portion) 600 sq.ft.

54 (part) (Eastern portion) 600 sq.ft.

Sale Deed dated 05.09.2012 Doc.No.4906/2012 10.N.Lakshmi 373/2 Sale Deed dated 25.06.2014 Doc.No.4194/2012 373/2 Sale Deed dated 20.05.1988 Doc.No.2026/1988 4, 1200 sq.ft.

11.M.K.Narayanan 373/2 9, 1240 sq.ft., 12.A.Vivekananda 373/2 A & 2B Sale Deed dated 12.04.2012 Doc.No.2309/2012 83, 1200 sq.ft., 13.G.Dhanalakshmi 373/2 Sale Deed dated 09.02.1996 Doc.No.578/1996

W.P.No Petitioner Plot No.& Extent Surve y No Details of purchase ownership 12225 /2020 1.J.Manjula 174 (part) (Northern portion) 1730 sq.ft., 374/2 Sale Deed dated 17.02.1989 Doc.No.516/1989 2.K.Padmini Sale Deed dated 30.10.1987 Doc.No.4284/1987 174 (part) (Southern portion) 1692 sq.ft., 374/2 374/2 Sale Deed dated 09.11.1987 Doc.No.3928/1987 3.N.Sumathi 171 & 172, 4508 sq.ft., 4.T.Ayyanar 5.T.Vinayakamurthy 6.T.Parvathy 7.Latha (Plot purchased by M.Thangavel, who died intestate on 06.01.2020 and succeeded by his legal heirs, the petitioners 4 to 7 herein.

Sale Deed dated 09.02.2001 Doc.No.582/2001 111, 1950 sq.ft., 373/2 8.J.Seeniyammal 9.J.Senthil 10.J.Shobana (Plot purchased by S.Jayamani, who died intestate on 07.05.2006 and succeeded by his legal heirs, the petitioners 810.) 11.B.Babu 14, 1320 sq.ft., Sale Deed dated 22.10.1990 Doc.No.3877/1990 373/2 130 (part) (Western portion) 1125 sq.ft., 373/2 Sale Deed dated 31.03.1987 Doc.No.1066/1987 Sale Deed dated 20.07.2000 Doc.No.3314/2000 12.S.Venkatesan 106, 1200 sq.ft., 373/2 107, 1200 sq.ft., Sale Deed dated 27.03.1987 Doc.No.1033/1987 13.S.Rajan 373/2 6 (part) (Southern portion) 610 sq.ft., Sale Deed dated 16.12.1987 Doc.No.382/1987 14.N.I.P.Balu 373/2

W.P.No Petitioner Plot No.& Extent Surve y No Details of purchase ownership 12230 /2020 1.V.Lakshmi 2.K.Maheswari 3.Malarvizhi (Plot purchased by M.Venkatesan who died intestate on 09.01.2018 and succeeded by his legal heirs, the petitioners 1 to 3) 182 (part) (Eastern portion) 1679 sq.ft., Sale Deed dated 06.03.1997 Doc.No.944/1997 373/2 Sale Deed dated 25.03.1987 Doc.No.957/1987 43, 1200 sq.ft., 4.S.Marial 5.S.Rooby Helen & 6.S.Roselin Sheeba (Plot purchased by M.Venkatesan who died intestate on 09.01.2018 and succeeded by his legal heirs, the petitioners 4 to 6) Sale Deed dated 06.05.2011 Doc.No.256/2011 47 (part) (North-west portion) 485 sq.ft., 373/2 7.R.Ramamurthy Sale Deed dated 13.12.2004 Doc.No.6934/2004 63 (part) (Southern portion) 810 sq.ft., 8.G.Ranga Partition Deed dated 11.03.1998 Doc.No.

859/1998 65 (part) (Eastern portion) 865 sq.ft., 9.E.Muniyammal 10.E.Uma 11.E.Rama 12.E.Guru (Plot purchased by G.Elumalai who died intestate on 23.05.2012 and succeeded by his legal heirs, the petitioners 9 to 12) 12233 /2020 S.Jaya 600 sq.ft., 284/1 Sale Deed dated 15.11.2010 Doc.No.

W.P.No Petitioner Plot No.& Extent Surve y No Details of purchase ownership 19933 /2020 1.M.Selva Chithambaram 23, 1200 sq.ft., 284/1 Sale Deed dated 09.07.2010 Doc.No.3652/2010 2.K.Devi 49 (part) (Eastern portion) 525 sq.ft., Sale Deed dated 16.03.2020 Doc.No.1723/2020 284/1 3.R.Muthulakshmi (i) Sale Deed dated 23.03.1990 Doc.No.1340/1990 22, 1200 sq.ft., 284/1 (ii) Sale Deed dated 19.06.1991 Doc.No.1971/1991 4.M.Kannan 5.M.Thambirattiama l Sale Deed dated 02.02.2007 Doc.No.492/2007 84, 1200 sq.ft., 373/2 Settlement Deed dated 19.08.2013 Doc.No.5085/2013 47, 1200 sq.ft., 6.R.B.Sahajanandam 373/2 Sale Deed dated 11.06.2004 Doc.No.3476/2004 52, 1200 sq.ft., 7.R.Jabarulla 373/2 Settlement Deed dated 05.07.2012 Doc.No.3806/2012 8.V.Gayathri 13, 1460 sq.ft., 373/2 9.S.Indira 139 (part) (Northern portion) 1010 sq.ft., Sale Deed dated 19.08.1996 Doc.No.4042/1996 373/2 Sale Deed dated 19.01.2000 Doc.No.197/2000 10.E.Murugan @ Gnanamurugan 93 & 68 (part) (Eastern portion) 645 sq.ft., Release Deed dated 30.01.2013 Doc.No.571/2013 11.P.Arun 90, 1200 sq.ft.,

3. In this back drop when the petitioners approached the revenue authorities for transfer of patta, they were kept waiting by the authorities on the ground that those properties

stand in the name of Tamil Nadu Housing Board [TNHB].

4. The learned counsel for the petitioners would submit even though the copies of the Orders passed by this Court in W.P.Nos.8370 & 8371 of 1986, and W.P.No.18379 of 1991 was produced before the Tahsildar concerned, he required a No Objection Certificate from TNHB.

5. The Tamil Nadu Housing Board, the second respondent herein has filed its counter. In paragraph No.19 of its common counter dated 05.03.2021, filed in WP.Nos.12200, 12213, 12220, 12225, 12230, 12233 of 2020, it is contended that the notification dated 08.05.1975 initiated under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, has not been quashed and it is still in force, but there is no pointed reference or denial to the Order passed by this Court in W.P.No. 18379 of 1991 on 01.07.1999, (even though the same has been referred in paragraph No.5 of the affidavit filed in WP.Nos.12200, 12213, 12220, 12225, 12230, 12233 of 2020). However, in its counter affidavit filed in W.P.No.19933/2020, it admits to this very fact which it chose to deny in its counter affidavit in other cases.

6. Heard the learned Government Advocates for the first respondent and Mr.M.Baskar, learned counsel for the second respondent.

7. The fact remains that the notification under Section 4

(1) has been quashed, and the Tamil Nadu Housing Board is only the beneficiary of the intended acquisition and not the acquisition authority, and only when the acquisition is successful and complete, the TNHB which is a requisition body will have the right to have its sty. And, today, at this distant date, it is not given to any of the authorities to impugn the validity of the Order in W.P.No. 18379 of 1991 collaterally in this proceedings. The circumstances are such that the Tahsildar is now required to abide by the Orders passed by this Court.

8. Article 261 of the Constitution envisages doctrine of full faith and credit, and this cannot be breached. The Tahsildar is now required to fix a date for enquiry within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. He may also give the right of audience to the Tamil Nadu Housing Board, though it is not required given the context, and it must be completed within a period of eight (8) weeks thereafter.

9. With the above directions, these writ petitions are disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar (CS-VII) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar ds

To:

1.The Tahsildar Maduravoyal Taluk Alapakkam Chennai - 600 116.

2.The Managing Director, The Tamil Nadu Housing Board, 493, Anna Salai Nandanam, Chenna - 600 035.

+3cc to Mr.Karthika Jaganath, Advocate, S.R.No. 21399 +1cc to the Government Pleader, S.R.No. 21470, 21469, 21477, 21476, 21922, 21921 W.P.Nos.12200, 12213, 12220, 12225,12230, 12233 & 19933 of 2020 RK(CO) GN(22/06/2021)