A.Gopalakrishnan v. The Principal Secretary And Commissioner Of Land Administration
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 31.10.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE V.LAKSHMINARAYANAN and C.M.P. No.10510 of 2023 1.A.Gopalakrishnan 2.Elumalai 3.K.Arumugam 4.Adiyammal 5.Mani Gounder 6.Arayi 7.Malliga 8.Mani 9.Mariappan 10.Raja @ Peraselli Gounder 11.Arjunan 12.Perumanathan ... Appellants Vs.
1.The Principal Secretary & Commissioner of Land Administration, Chepauk, Chennai - 600 005.
2.The District Collector, Salem District, Salem.
3.The District Revenue Officer, Salem District, Salem.
4.The Revenue Divisional Officer,
Salem, Salem District.
5.The Tahsildar, Salem, Salem District.
... Respondents Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent against the order dated 30.11.2022 made in W.P. No.40621 of 2016. For Appellants : Mr.S.Elayathamizhan for Mr.M.R.Jothimanian For Respondents : Ms.Akila Rajendran, Government Advocate
JUDGMENT
(Judgment of the Court was delivered by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.) Writ order dated 30.11.2022 passed in W.P.No.40621 of 2016 is under challenge in the present intra-court appeal.
2. Writ petitioners are the appellants before this Court. Applications has been filed by the appellants seeking assignment of Government lands.
3. Learned Government Advocate would submit that subject land is declared as poramboke forest land and the property is situate adjacent to Nagarmalai, which is a hilly area.
4. May that as it be, assignment of Government land cannot be claimed as an absolute right. Assignment of property granted by the Government under welfare scheme to the landless poor people is to be made by scrupulously following the terms and conditions stipulated under the Revenue Standing Orders. In the present case, the authorities found that the subject land is situate within a radius of 8 kms from the District Headquarters. Thus, no direction can be granted since such lands are to be utilised for public purposes. That apart, the appellants have no right to claim assignment by merely submitting applications and administrative decision to grant assignment to be taken by way of policy by the Government. That being the factum, this Court does not find any infirmity in respect of the writ order and the same stands confirmed. Consequently, writ appeal stands dismissed. Connected miscellaneous petition is closed. There shall be no order as to costs.
[S.M.S, J.] [V.L.N., J.] 31.10.2025 Index:Yes/No mmi
To 1.The Principal Secretary & Commissioner of Land Administration, Chepauk, Chennai - 600 005.
2.The District Collector, Salem District, Salem.
3.The District Revenue Officer, Salem District, Salem.
4.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Salem, Salem District.
5.The Tahsildar, Salem, Salem District.
S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.
AND V.LAKSHMINARAYANAN, J.
mmi 31.10.2025