Madras High CourtWP/22088/2021disposed of

Ramesh @ John Senguttuvan v. The District Collector

2021-10-20Honourable The Chief Justice,Honourable Mr Justice P.D.Audikesavalu3 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 20.10.2021 CORAM :

THE HON'BLE MR.SANJIB BANERJEE, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE P.D.AUDIKESAVALU WP No.22088 of 2021 Ramesh @ John Senguttuvan ... Petitioner -vs1 The District Collector, Cuddalore District, Cuddalore.

2 The District Adhidravidar and Tribal Welfare Officer (Adhi Dravidar Department), District Collectorate, Cuddalore District.

3 The Revenue Divisional Officer, Virudhachalam, Cuddalore District.

4 The Special Tashildar (Adhidravidar Welfare), Virudhachalam, Cuddalore District.

5 The Block Development officer Nallur Union Office, Cuddalore District.

6 The Revenue Tashildar, Thittagudi Taluk, Cuddalore District.

7 The Village Administrative Officer, Coodalore Village, Thittagudi Taluk, Cuddalore District.

8 The President, Coodalore Village Panchayat, Cuddalore District.

...

Respondents

Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the First and Fourth Respondents to take an appropriate action in accordance with law by considering the representation of the petitioner dated 23.08.2021 on the file of Respondents 1 to 7 herein to secure the ends of justice.

For the Petitioner :

Mr.M.Velmurugan For the Respondents :

Mr.P.Muthukumar, State Government Pleader, for RR 1 to 7

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by The Hon'ble Chief Justice) The petitioner complains that a land acquired by the State quite sometime back for distribution to landless citizens has remained unallotted and the eighth respondent as the President of the local village panchayat is taking a premium from landless persons with the promise that appropriate allotments in their favour would be made. The immediate grievance of the petitioner is that despite the petitioner's representation in such regard to the District Collector, Cuddalore on August 23, 2021, no action has been taken.

2. Mr.P.Muthukumar, learned State Government Pleader, takes notice on behalf of the respondent Nos.1 to 4 and says that the allegations levelled by the petitioner will be addressed as expeditiously as possible.

3. If what the petitioner says is true, the situation needs to be addressed immediately. If any land was acquired by the State or was otherwise earmarked for being allotted to the landless, it has to be done through a transparent process upon certain norms being set. The allotment orders cannot be on the basis of the recommendations of the eighth respondent or upon the eighth respondent obtaining any premium therefor.

4. Accordingly, the District Collector is directed to look into the allegations levelled in the relevant letter dated August 23, 2021 by the petitioner and address the matter in a wholesome manner, both to ensure that the persons for whom the land was obtained are allotted adequate space and that the exercise allegedly undertaken by the eighth respondent is arrested as expeditiously as possible. The exercise should be completed by the District Collector within a period of eight weeks of the receipt of an authenticated copy of this order.

WP No.22088 of 2021 is disposed of without any order as to costs. WMP No.23306 of 2021 is closed.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar (CS-IV) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar sra To:

1 The District Collector, Cuddalore District, Cuddalore.