Mrs.S.Akila v. The Secretary
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 06.12.2023
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE J.NISHA BANU and THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE N.MALA W.P.No. 24827 of 2021 S.Akila ..Petitioner Vs.
1.The Secretary, The Adidravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, Secretariat, Fort.St.George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Collector, O/o The Collectorate, Vellore District.
3.The Tahsildar, O/o The Tahsildar, Annaikattu, Vellore District.
4.The Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), O/o Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), Vellore.
..Respondents Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of mandamus, to direct the respondents 2 to 4 to consider the petitioner's application dated 23.09.2021.
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For Petitioner : Mr. K.Seetharam For Respondents : Mr.Stalin Abhimanyu for R1 to R4 Additional Government Pleader
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by J.Nisha Banu,J.) This writ petition has been filed to direct the respondents 2 to 4 to consider the petitioner's application dated 23.09.2021.
2. The case of the petitioner is that she belongs to Hindu Kurumans Schedule Tribe community which is one of the communities listed as a Schedule Tribe under the constitution (ST) orders, 1950. She made several attempts to get the community certificate from the respondents and submitted an application dated 23.09.2021 before the Tahsildar, Annaikattu, Vellore District, but the same has not been considered till date. Hence, the present writ petition.
3. Learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents had produced a letter dated 03.09.2021 addressed by Additional Chief Secretary/Commissioner of Revenue Administration, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai-600 005 to all the District Collectors, stating that application for Scheduled Tribe Certificate should be made through online and Page No:2/5
the practice of receiving applications for Scheduled Tribes manually should henceforth be stopped and the applicants may be requested to apply online for obtaining scheduled Tribes certificate along with relevant supportive documents.
4. Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record.
5. Considering the submissions made by the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents, this Court deems it fit to direct the petitioner to apply for community certificate through online mode with all relevant documents and on receipt of such online application, the respondents are directed to consider the said online application and pass orders on merits within a period of eight(8) weeks thereafter.
6. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. (J.N.B.,J.) (N.M.,J.) 06.12.2023 Index : Yes / No Speaking Order : Yes/No Internet:Yes/No msv Page No:3/5
To 1.The Secretary, The Adidravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, Secretariat, Fort.St.George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Collector, O/o The Collectorate, Vellore District.
3.The Tahsildar, O/o The Tahsildar, Annaikattu, Vellore District.
4.The Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), O/o Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), Vellore.
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J.NISHA BANU,J.
And N.Mala,J.
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