Narmadha Gopalakrishnan v. The District Collector
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 20.05.2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.R. SWAMINATHAN & W.M.P. No. 21313 of 2026 Narmadha Gopalakrishnan ..Petitioner Vs.
1.
The District Collector, Collectorate, GST Road, Chengalpattu - 603 001.
The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, 119, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Thousand Lights West, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 034.
The Tahsildar, Taluk Office Building, GST Road, Kadaperi, Tambaram, Chennai - 600 045.
The District Registrar (Admn.), Venkatesan Street, 1\6
Tambaram.
The Sub Registrar, Tambaram, Sabai Colony, Sembakkam, Rajakilpakkam, Tamil Nadu 600 073.
The Assistant Commissioner, Arulmigu Vadapalani Andavar Temple, Palani Andavar Koil Street, Vadapalani, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600 026.
..Respondents Prayer:
Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issue of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the impugned communication of the 6th respondent in Na.Ka.No. 256/2/2024/A2 dated 19.06.2024, quash the same as illegal, and consequentially direct the 5th respondent to receive, process and register the sale deed presented by the petitioner in respect of Plot No. 63, situated in Survey No. 341/1A, Tambaram Village, admeasuring 1971 sq.ft, without insisting on any No Objection Certificate from the 6th respondent. For Petitioner ::
Mr.T.M. Mano For Respondents ::
Mr.M. Murali, Govt. Advocate for R1, R3, R4 and R5 Mr.L.S.M. Hasan Fizal, 2\6
Addl. Govt. Pleader for R2 and R6
O R D E R
Heard both sides.
The writ petitioner is having title over 1971 sq.ft of land comprised in Survey No. 341/1A in Tambaram Village by virtue of a Settlement Deed dated 22.03.1994 executed in her favour by her mother Smt. Rajalakshmi Ammal. The petitioner's counsel asserts that the petitioner is having a patta also in her favour. Now, the petitioner wants to deal with the said property. However, on account of blanket portal freeze effected on the entire Survey No. 341/1A at the instance of the 6th respondent temple, the petitioner is unable to present any document in respect of her property. That led to the filing of W.P. No. 17089 of 2026 to direct the Registering Officer to register her sale deed. However, the said writ petition was dismissed as withdrawn by order dated 29.04.2026 with liberty to challenge the communication sent by the 6th respondent to the Sub Registrar, Tambaram. Availing the said liberty, this writ petition has been filed.
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I am of the view that the filing of this writ petition is misconceived. According to the 6th respondent temple, 5 cents of land were conveyed in their favour by one Subramania Naicker vide Document No. 1059/1950 dated 14.06.1950. The said property is comprised in the very same Survey No.341/1A. It appears that the 6th respondent is unable to locate the entire extent of land gifted in favour of the temple and it is seen that a request has been made to the 3rd respondent to conduct survey and earmark the gifted property. No exception can be taken to the aforesaid request made by the 6th respondent to the 3rd respondent. As temple land is involved, this Court has to assume parens patriae jurisdiction.
Therefore, I direct the 3rd respondent to act immediately on the request of the 6th respondent temple and earmark the property gifted in their favour. Patta shall also be issued in favour of the 6th respondent. The said exercise shall be done by the 3rd respondent within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. In the meanwhile, the petitioner can very well present the document in question before the 5th respondent. The 5th respondent shall issue notice to the 6th respondent also in this regard.
Officer is satisfied that the land over which the petitioner claims title is distinct from the aforesaid property gifted in favour of the 6th respondent temple, the document of the petitioner shall be registered. The 5th respondent shall conclude the exercise in this regard within a period of 90 days from the date of re-submission of the document in question by the petitioner.
The writ petition is disposed of accordingly. No costs. Connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
20.05.2026 nv To 1.
The District Collector, Collectorate, GST Road, Chengalpattu - 603 001.
The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, 119, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Thousand Lights West, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 034.
The Tahsildar, Taluk Office Building, GST Road, Kadaperi, Tambaram, Chennai - 600 045.
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G.R. SWAMINATHAN,J.
nv The District Registrar (Admn.), Venkatesan Street, Tambaram.
The Sub Registrar, Tambaram, Sabai Colony, Sembakkam, Rajakilpakkam, Tamil Nadu 600 073.
The Assistant Commissioner, Arulmigu Vadapalani Andavar Temple, Palani Andavar Koil Street, Vadapalani, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600 026.
20.05.2026 6\6