R.Muniappan v. The District Collector
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 18.06.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.SUNDAR and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR R.Muniappan ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The District Collector Collectorate Building, Thiruvannamalai District.
2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Arani, Thiruvannamalai District.
3.The Tahsildar, Kalasapakkam Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District.
4.Pitchandi 5.Palani 6.Bhoopalan ... Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of The Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the 3rd respondent to implement the 1st respondent order dated 29.11.2023 in Page Nos.1/7
Na.Ka.No.A4/1547985/2023 and O.Mu.Aa. 4/1925954/2024 dated 26.04.2024 to remove the illegal occupation and encroachment in Survey No.70 of Seenandal Village of Kalasapakkam Taluk of Thiruvannamalai District which is Government thope poromoboke land under illegal encroachment by the 4th, 5th and 6th respondents. For Petitioner :
Mr.C.B.Santhosh Kumar For Respondents :
Mr.T.K.Saravanan, Additional Government Pleader for R1 to R3
ORDER
[Order of the Court was made by M.SUNDAR, J.,] This order will now dispose of the captioned 'Writ Petition' ['WP' for the sake of brevity].
2.
Mr.C.B.Santhosh Kumar, learned counsel on record for writ petitioner, is before us.
3.
Adverting to a representation dated 18.11.2023 from the writ petitioner, learned counsel for writ petitioner submitted that there is alleged encroachment in 'Government thope poramboke land in Page Nos.2/7
Survey No. 70, Seenandal Village, Kalasapakkam Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District District,' [hereinafter 'said land' for the sake of convenience and clarity] by R4 to R6 before us. To be noted, R4 to R6 are private respondents.
4.
Considering the facts and circumstances of the case in juxtaposition with G.O.(Ms)No.64, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Land Disposal Wing, dated 08.02.2022 {hereinafter 'said GO' for the sake of convenience} which puts in place a removal of encroachment procedure inter-alia giving opportunity to alleged encroachers, we are of the view that the captioned WP can be disposed of by ordering notice to official respondents (R1 to R3) and putting in a safety valve / adequate protection qua alleged encroachers i.e., R4 to R6.
5.
Issue notice to official respondents, i.e., R1 to R3. 6.
Mr.T.K.Saravanan, learned Additional Government Pleader, accepts notice for R1 to R3.
Page Nos.3/7
7.
In the light of what has been alluded to supra and considering the limited scope of the captioned WP, with the consent of both sides, captioned WP was taken up.
8.
It was submitted by learned State counsel that said GO has been put in place, wherein and whereby Divisional Monitoring Committee, District Monitoring Committee and State Steering Committee have been constituted inter alia for a single point reporting / monitoring system qua Government lands.
9.
In the light of the narrative thus far, we deem it appropriate to refer the matter to the Divisional Monitoring Committee headed by Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Arani qua said GO.
10.
This Court directs the jurisdictional Divisional Monitoring Committee to examine if there is encroachment qua said land. Page Nos.4/7
11.
The Divisional Monitoring Committee qua said GO shall (if it comes to the conclusion that there is encroachment) report the encroachment to appropriate authorities concerned for further action (for removal of encroachment). In this regard, we are acutely conscious that the matter is being disposed of in Admission Board without notice to alleged encroachers and therefore, this safety valve is put in place. To be noted, all the rights and contentions of alleged encroachers are preserved for being raised before the Committee concerned which shall consider the same on their own merits and in accordance with law untrammelled by this proceedings in this Court. The entire exercise shall be completed within a period of 14 weeks from today i.e., by 24.09.2025.
12.
It is open to the writ petitioner and/or anyone concerned with this matter to come to this Court on the same issue even with a similar / same prayer if there is any change of circumstances. 13.
We make it clear that we have not expressed any view or opinion as to whether there is encroachment or not qua said land as it turns on facts and it is for the Divisional Monitoring Committee to take Page Nos.5/7
a call on this aspect of the matter. We also make it clear that this exercise will not apply to patta land and it will apply only to public land, if there is any encroachment in public land. 14.
Captioned WP is disposed of with the aforementioned observations and directives in the aforesaid manner. There shall be no order as to costs.
(M.S.,J.) (H.C.,J.) 18.06.2025 Index : Yes / No mmi To 1.The District Collector Collectorate Building, Thiruvannamalai District.
2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Arani, Thiruvannamalai District.
3.The Tahsildar, Kalasapakkam Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District.
Page Nos.6/7
M.SUNDAR, J., and HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J., mmi 18.06.2025 Page Nos.7/7