Musthiri Begum v. The State Of Tamilnadu
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS Dated : 15.09.2025
CORAM
THE HON'BLE Mr. JUSTICE KRISHNAN RAMASAMY Musthiri Begum ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by its Principal Secretary, Land Reforms, Secretariat, Chennai.
2.District Collector, Kallakurichi District, Kallakurichi.
3.District Revenue Officer, Kallakurichi District, Kallakurichi.
4.Tahsildhar, Chinnaselam Taluk, Kallakurichi District, Kallakurichi.
5.The Chief Conservator of Forest Panangal Maligai, Saidapet, Chennai - 600 015.
... Respondents Prayer:
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Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents two to five to dispose of petitioner's representation dated 20.12.2024 and 20.04.2025 in accordance with law.
For Petitioner : Mr.S.Pugaleanthi For Respondents 1 to 4 : Mr.R.Ramanlal, Additional Advocate General Assisted by, Mr.P.Ganesan, Government Advocate For Respondent 5 : Mr.C.Selvaraj, Additional Government Pleader
ORDER
The relief sought for in this writ petition is to direct the respondents 2 to 5 to dispose of petitioner's representation dated 20.12.2024 and 20.04.2025, in accordance with law.
2. Mr.P.Ganesan, learned Government Advocate takes notice on behalf of respondents 1 to 4. Mr.C.Selvaraj, learned Additional Government Pleader takes notice on behalf of the fifth respondent. By consent of both the parties, this writ petition is taken up for final hearing 2/6
at the admission stage itself.
3. The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner has purchased a property comprised in S.No.70/2, measuring 3 acres, situated in Pottiyum Village, Vadakkananthal Sub district, kallakurichi District, Kalvarayan Hills vide unregistered barren land possession transfer document dated 05.10.1989 from one Annamalai and Kalyani. She is cultivating the land for the past 35 years. Therefore, she submitted a representations dated 20.12.2024 and 20.04.2025, seeking to issue patta on her favour for the aforesaid land. However, till date, no order was passed. Hence, the petitioner has come forward with the present writ petition.
4. Learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the respondents 1 to 4 would submit that in the present case, the petitioner is not entitled for patta, since the present subject land is a forest land.
5. Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record.
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6. No doubt, in the event, the petitioner is asking for forest land, certainly she is not entitled for any patta. However, in the case on hand, the petitioner submitted that the aforesaid land is not a forest land and she is in possession and cultivating the said land for the past 35 years. Therefore, it is upto the petitioner to produce all the relevant documents before the authority concerned to substantiate her claim. In such case, the concerned authority is directed to dispose of the petitioner's representations dated 20.12.2024 and 20.04.2025, after affording an opportunity of personal hearing to the petitioner, within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. With the aforesaid direction, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs.
15.09.2025 Speaking/Non-speaking order Index : Yes / No vm To 1.The Principal Secretary, Land Reforms, 4/6
Secretariat, Chennai.
2.District Collector, Kallakurichi District, Kallakurichi.
3.District Revenue Officer, Kallakurichi District, Kallakurichi.
4.Tahsildhar, Chinnaselam Taluk, Kallakurichi District, Kallakurichi.
5.The Chief Conservator of Forest Panangal Maligai, Saidapet, Chennai - 600 015.
KRISHNAN RAMASAMY.J., vm 5/6
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