S.Shanthi v. The District Revenue Officer

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 03.12.2025 C O R A M THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN S.Shanthi ... Petitioner -vsThe District Revenue Officer, Villupuram District, Villupuram, PIN-607 203.

... Respondent Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a writ of Mandamus, directing the respondent to consider and dispose the Revision Petition preferred by the petitioner against the proceedings of the Revenue Divisional Officer, Villupuram made in Pa.Mu.A3/1386/2023 dated 24.05.2024 within a time frame.

For Petitioner : Mr.A.Lakshminarasimhan For Respondent : Mr.T.Arun Kumar Addl. Govt. Pleader *****

O R D E R

(By.S.M.SUBRAMANIAM,J.,) The Writ of Mandamus has been instituted to direct the respondent to dispose of the Revision Petition preferred by the petitioner, 1/4

challenging the proceedings of the Revenue Divisional Officer, Villupuram dated 24.05.2024.

2. Routine issuance of directions to dispose of the representation / appeal / revision would do no service to the cause of justice. Litigant will be back again by instituting further petitions, leading to multiplicity of proceedings. Whenever an appeal is preferred to the Appellate Authority, such appeals ought to be registered by the Appellate Authority in the filing register and accordingly, appeals ought to be disposed in a systematic manner, preferably in the order of seniority, except in urgent cases. Issuing routine directions to the Appellate Authority to dispose of the appeal would result in causing prejudice to other persons, who have preferred appeals long before and waiting for disposal of their appeals.

That apart, the Appellate Authority would also be pressurized unnecessarily and they will not be in a position to carry out their routine public duties. The District Revenue Officer has to perform a lot of public duties and disposal of appeal is one such duty, which has to be exercised. Thus, disposal of appeal is to be undertaken in a systematic manner without causing any discrimination amongst persons, who have preferred appeals and waiting for disposal of their respective appeals.

3. In the present case, the petitioner has filed the Revision Petition on 24.05.2024 and more than one year lapsed. Therefore, the respondent shall consider the seniority of the Revision Petition filed by the petitioner and dispose of the same on merits and in accordance with law. With the above direction, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs.

(S.M.S,J.,) (C.K,J.,) 03.12.2025 Index: Yes Internet: Yes / No ar To:

The District Revenue Officer, Villupuram District, Villupuram, PIN-607 203.

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S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.

AND C.KUMARAPPAN, J.

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