S.Sivakumar v. The District Collector

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 20.08.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ S. Sivakumar ... Petitioner Vs

1. The District Collector Collectorate, Vellore district 632 009

2. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Vellore Revenue Division B Block, Collectorate, Vellore district 632 009.

3. The Special Tahsildar of Land Acquisition Katpadi Taluk, Katpadi, Vellore - 632 059.

4. N. Annamalai ... Respondents 1/6

PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for the issuance of a writ of mandamus to direct the 1st to 3rd respondents to refer the matter to the civil court under Section 21(2) of the Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001 and desist from disbursing compensation to the 4th respondent or any other person pending the decision of the Civil Court vide representation dated 02.03.2021 and 07.04.2025. For the Petitioner : Mr.Y.Kaja Navas For the Respondents : Mr.S.J.Mohammed Sathik Government Advocate for R1 to R3

ORDER

In view of the order that this Court proposes to pass and also the limited relief that is sought to be granted, notice to respondent No.4 is dispensed with.

2. The present writ petition is filed praying for a writ of mandamus to direct respondents 1 to 3 to refer the matter to the civil court under Section 21(2) of the Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001 and desist from disbursing compensation to respondent No.4 or any other person pending the decision of the Civil Court on the basis of representations dated 02.03.2021 and 2/6

07.04.2025.

3. At the outset, it is submitted by learned Government Advocate for respondents 1 to 3 that representations dated 02.03.2021 and 07.04.2025. submitted by the petitioner would be considered and appropriate orders would be passed within a time frame to be fixed by this Court, which was agreed to by the learned counsel for petitioner.

4. In view of the limited relief that is prayed, this court is inclined to dispose of the writ petition with following directions: i) The respondents 1 to 3 shall consider the representations dated 02.03.2021 and 07.04.2025, after issuing notice and affording a reasonable opportunity of hearing to the petitioner, fourth respondent and all other interested parties including rival claimants, if any. ii) Though facts have been set out in affidavit, in view of the limited relief that is sought to be granted, I do not propose to examine the same, lest it may influence the authority. The authority shall independently consider the facts and law set out in the representation and pass appropriate order in 3/6

accordance with law.

iii) The petitioner's representations dated 02.03.2021 and 07.04.2025 shall be disposed of within a period of twelve (12) weeks from the date of uploading of web copy without waiting for the receipt of certified copy. iv) It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any views with regard to the merits of the case and it is open to the concerned respondent to consider the matter on its own merits and in accordance with law. Rights and contentions of the petitioner and all other interested parties are left open.

6. Accordingly, the writ petition stands disposed of. There will be no order as to costs.

20.08.2025 Index : Yes/No mrn To:

1. The District Collector Collectorate, Vellore district 632 009 4/6

2. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Vellore Revenue Division B Block, Collectorate, Vellore district 632 009.

3. The Special Tahsildar of Land Acquisition Katpadi Taluk, Katpadi, Vellore - 632 059.

5/6

MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ, J.

(mrn) 20.08.2025 6/6