N.Raja, v. The District Collector,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 04.12.2017

CORAM

The HON'BLE MS.INDIRA BANERJEE, CHIEF JUSTICE AND The HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE R.HEMALATHA W.P.No.29680 of 2017 and WMP.Nos.31994 & 31995 of 2017 N.Raja .. Petitioner vs.

1. The District Collector, Vellore, Vellore District.

2. The Thasildhar, Katpadi Taluk Office, Vellore, Vellore District.

3. The Inspector of Police, Katpadi Police Station, Katpadi, Vellore District.

.. Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the first respondent to grant patta for the house sites of the petitioner and his community members at Kilvadugankutti, Rice Mill, Anna Nagar, Katpadi Taluk, Vellore District within time frame.

For Petitioner : Mr.M.Sathish Kumar For Respondents : Mr.T.N.Rajagopalan Government Pleader (i/c)

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by The Hon'ble Chief Justice) This writ petition has been filed by the petitioner in public interest for a direction on the first respondent to

grant patta for house sites to members of the Kurivikarar (Narikurvar) tribe, which is a Gypsy community, constituting about 0.1% of the population of Tamil Nadu.

2. It is submitted that the members of Narikurvar community have no place to reside and they are pavement dwellers, who take shelter in bus stands, railway stations and under garnishes and sheds abutting streets etc. The members of Narikurvar community by and large are illiterates, living in poverty and prone to diseases. They are discriminated. The petitioner submits that to bring the members of Narikurvar community to the main stream of the society, it is imperative that they should be provided with basic amenities of decent living and in particular patta lands on which they can construct their houses.

3. After hearing the respective parties, we direct the District Collector, Vellore to treat the writ petition as representation of the petitioner and the members of Kurivikarar (Narikurvar) tribe and consider the same in accordance with law. The District Collector, Vellore shall consider framing a scheme for grant of patta lands to the members of the tribe. A decision shall be taken at the earliest, preferably within three months from the date of communication of this order.

4. The writ petition is disposed of accordingly. No costs. Consequently, W.M.P.Nos.31994 & 31995 of 2017 are closed. s/d- Assistant Registrar(CS VII) True Copy Sub-Assistant Registrar bbr To:

1.The District Collector, Vellore, Vellore District.

2.The Thasildhar, Katpadi Taluk Office, Vellore, Vellore District.

3.The Inspect of Police, Katpadi Police Station, Katpadi, Vellore District.

+1 CC to Govt. Pleader sr 85815.

+1 CC to Mr.M. Sathish Kumar, Advocate sr 86638 W.P.No.29680 of 2017 PVS(CO) SP(19/12/2017)