Santhanaraj v. The Principal Secretary To The Government
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 03.01.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.SUNDAR and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.RAJASEKAR Santhanaraj S/o.Francis ... Petitioner Vs.
1.
The Principal Secretary to the Government Department of Revenue and Disaster Management Secretariat, St.George Fort Chennai-600 005.
2.
The District Collector O/o. District Collector Nagapattinam District.
3.
The Thasildhar O/o.Kilaiyur Thasildhar Nagapattinam District.
... Respondents Prayer :
Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of The Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus to directing the respondents or his agents, men not to take any coercive steps as per the proceedings vide Na.Ka.3719/2024/Uo4 dated 05.11.2024 passed by the 2nd respondent Page Nos.1/5
under the Tamil Nadu Land Encroachment Act, 1905 until disposal of the revision dated 22.11.2024 pending before the 1st respondent. For Petitioner :
Mr.P.Muthamizh Selvakumar For Respondents :
Mr.T.K.Saravanan Government Advocate
O R D E R
[Order of the Court was made by M.SUNDAR, J.,] Captioned main 'Writ Petition' {hereinafter 'WP' for the sake of brevity} has been filed with a mandamus prayer qua proceedings under 'the Tamil Nadu Land Encroachment Act, 1905 (Tamil Nadu Act III of 1905)' {hereinafter 'said 1905 Act' for the sake of brevity}.
2. Mr.P.Muthamizh Selvakumar, learned counsel on record for writ petitioner submits that proceedings under said 1905 Act was initiated and as of today, a revision dated 22.11.2024 (revision along stay petition under Section 10-B of said 1905 Act) is pending. Learned counsel further submits that pending statutory revision and stay petition thereat, writ petitioner is under pain of dispossession and that has necessitated filing of the captioned writ petition.
3. Issue notice to respondents.
Page Nos.2/5
4. Mr.T.K.Saravanan, learned Government Advocate accepts notice for respondents.
5. Considering the limited scope of the captioned WP, main WP was taken up in the Admission Board with the consent of both sides.
6. Learned State Counsel submits that stay petition pending with R1 will be disposed of as expeditiously as the business of R1 permits but in any event within three weeks from today i.e., on or before 24.01.2025. This submission of learned State Counsel is recorded.
7. In the light of the narrative thus far, we deem it appropriate to write that it is open to R1 to take up the main statutory revision also within three weeks, if the official business of R1 permits such a course. However, we make it clear that it is at the discretion of R1 and his official business.
8. As the stay petition in a statutory revision (stay petition under Section 10-B of said 1905 Act) is pending, it is only appropriate that any further action will be subject to / depending on the outcome of stay petition. In other words, status quo as of today will be maintained till the disposal of stay petition under Section 10-B of said 1905 Act being stay petition filed along with statutory revision now pending with R1. Page Nos.3/5
9. Let R1 do the needful within the aforementioned time frame. Captioned main WP is disposed of in the aforesaid manner. There shall be no order as to costs.
(M.S.,J.) (K.R.S.,J.) 03.01.2025 Index : Yes / No Speaking order / Non-speaking order mk To 1.
The Principal Secretary to the Government Department of Revenue and Disaster Management Secretariat, St.George Fort Chennai-600 005.
2.
The District Collector O/o. District Collector Nagapattinam District.
3.
The Thasildhar O/o.Kilaiyur Thasildhar Nagapattinam District.
M.SUNDAR, J., and Page Nos.4/5
K.RAJASEKAR, J., mk 03.01.2025 Page Nos.5/5