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Madras High CourtWP/211/2026disposed of

Chidambaram Municipality v. The Commissioner Of Land Administration

2026-01-12Honourable Mr Justice Abdul Quddhose7 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 12-01-2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE AND WMP NO. 240 OF 2026,WMP NO. 244 OF 2026

1. Chidambaram Municipality Rep by its Commissioner Chidambaram Cuddalore District Petitioner(s) Vs

1. The Commissioner of Land Administration Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai 600 005 2.The District Collector Cuddalore Distrct, Cuddalore 3.the Additional District collector Collectorate office, Cuddalore 4.The District Revenue officer Cuddalore Distrct, Cuddalore 5.The Sub Collector chidambaram,Cuddalore District Respondent(s) PRAYER Calling for the records of the third respondnet in his proceedings Ni. mu. V3/ 28656/ 2019 dated 07.06.2022 quash the same and consequenlty directing the respondents to issue the patta in regard to the lands in Survey number 221. (2.17 Hectares), 222 ( 2.17 Hectares), 223/1 ( 1.68.5 hectares) 224/1 (0.60 Hectares) and 225/1 (0.58 Hectares) along with the lands in Survey Numbers 196 ( 2.54.0 Hectares), 197 ( 3.53.5 Hectres) 198 ( 2.90.0 Hectares) 201 ( 1.94 hectares), 202 (1.25.5 Hectares), 210 ( 1.37.0 hectares) 211 ( 2.16.5 hectares) 221 (1.92.0 Hectares) Llpuram Village Chidambaram Taluk cuddalore District in favour of the petitioner

For Petitioner(s):

MR.P.Srinivas For Respondent(s):

Mr.D.Ravichander,sgp For Respondent

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed, challenging the impugned proceedings of the third respondent dated 07.06.2022 pertaining to the properties morefully described in the prayer to this writ petition.

2. The petitioner Municipality claims that the properties morefully described in the prayer to this writ petition belongs to them but according to them a wrong classification has been made in the impugned proceedings dated 07.06.2022 by declaring that the properties are "Natham Land". Aggrieved by the impugned proceedings dated 07.06.2022, passed by the third respondent, the petitioner had filed an appeal before the first respondent on 02.12.2022. The petitioner now claims that since there is an issue as to whether the appeal filed by the petitioner is maintainable or not, since the respondents have declared the lands to be "Natham Land", the petitioner has filed this writ petition.

3. The petitioner has also filed documents along with this writ petition, which includes the communication sent by the second respondent, which reveals that the second respondent is attempting to acquire the lands from the petitioner. The petitioner apprehends that if the lands are acquired by the second

respondent as per the communication sent by the second respondent, the petitioner will lose the benefit of the said land, which will be detrimental to the interest of the petitioner Municipality.

4. Mr. D.Ravichander, learned Special Government Pleader accepts notice on behalf of the respondents and would submit that the petitioner has approached this Court belatedly, though the impugned proceeding is dated 07.06.2022. He would submit that the petitioner did not file an application for stay of operation of the impugned proceedings dated 07.06.2022 before the appellate authority viz., the first respondent. Even he would also submit that the last communication sent by the second respondent to the petitioner was on 07.05.2022. But only after the lapse of more than six months, the petitioner has filed this writ petition. He would further submit that the petitioner has not pleaded any urgency in the affidavit filed in support of this writ petition for filing of this writ petition. He would also submit that there cannot be two parallel proceedings, one before the first respondent (Appeal) and the other before this Court through a writ petition.

5. Admittedly, both the petitioner Municipality as well as the respondents are wings of the Government. The petitioner claims that they are the absolute owners of the properties morefully described in the prayer to this writ petition. The petitioner is aggrieved by the alleged wrong classification of the properties

under the impugned proceedings of the third respondent.

6. Admittedly, the petitioner had submitted representation before the first respondent seeking for cancellation of the impugned proceedings of the third respondent immediately after the passing of the impugned proceedings dated 07.06.2022. Admittedly, the said representation (Appeal) is yet to be considered by the first respondent.

7. The petitioner has also filed supporting documents along with this writ petition claiming that the petitioner Municipality is the absolute owner of the properties morefully described in the prayer to this writ petition and the said properties are currently being used by the petitioner Municipality for sewage treatment plant since 1961 onwards.

8. This Court after hearing the submissions of the learned counsel for the petitioner Municipality as well as the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents is of the considered view that no prejudice would be caused to the respondents if a direction is issued to the first respondent to dispose of the petitioner's representation (Appeal) dated 02.12.2022 within a time frame to be fixed by this Court and till the appeal is disposed of, the parties are directed to maintain status quo.

9. This Court is not expressing any opinion on the merits of the petitioner's representation (Appeal) pending on the file of the first respondent.

10. Being two wings of the Government and in public interest, the aforementioned interim direction is issued by this Court. When two wings of the Government are having a dispute, this Court need not go into the technicalities of the contentions raised by the respective parties before this Court, but, instead, this Court will have to act only in public interest by balancing the interest of both the parties viz., the petitioner Municipality as well as the respondents in this writ petition.

11. For the foregoing reasons, this Court directs the first respondent to pass final orders on merits and in accordance with law on the petitioner's representation (Appeal) dated 02.12.2022, seeking for quashing of the impugned proceedings dated 07.06.2022 for the properties morefully described in the prayer to this writ petition within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order by adhering to the principles of natural justice. Till final orders are passed by the first respondent, the respondents shall maintain status quo. But, this Court is making it very clear the this Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the petitioner's representation (Appeal) dated 02.12.2022.

12. Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of. No Costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 12-01-2026 Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes ab To 1.The Commissioner of Land Administration Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai 600 005 2.The District Collector Cuddalore Distrct, Cuddalore 3.the Additional District collector Collectorate office, Cuddalore 4.The District Revenue officer Cuddalore Distrct, Cuddalore 5.the Sub Collector chidambaram,Cuddalore District

ABDUL QUDDHOSE J.

ab AND WMP NO. 240 OF 2026,WMP NO. 244 OF 12-01-2026