S.Saroja v. The Secretary

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 17-12-2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE N. SATHISH KUMAR and WMP No.53946 of 2025 S.Saroja Petitioner(s) Vs

1. The Secretary, Revenue And Disaster Management Department, Fort St.George, Chennai 600 009 2.The District Collector, Chennai District, Chennai 600 001 3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Chennai South, Guindy, Chennai 4.The Tahsildar Mambalam Taluk, Chennai 600 033 Respondent(s) PRAYER This writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India calling for records of the rejection order passed by the 4th respondent dated nil quash the same and direct the 4th respondent to issue Legal Heirship Certificate

to the petitioner by including the name of her deceased son as per her application No. TN- 7202508042169 dated 04.08.2025 within a stipulated time. For Petitioner(s):

Mr. Sharath Chandran, for Mr.A.B.Rajasekaran For Respondent:

Mr. R.Neelakandan, Asst. by Mr. Yogesh Kannadasan, Spl. G.P., for R1 to R4

ORDER

Challenging the rejection order dated 04.08.2025 passed by the 4th respondent returning the petitioner's application for issuance of a legal heir certificate, the present writ petition has been filed.

2. The petitioner sought a legal heir certificate including the names of her deceased husband and deceased son. The petitioner's only son, S.Sathya Narayanan, died in a tragic accident on 05.03.1991, which caused severe emotional trauma and withdrawal from public life. The petitioner and her husband established Sathya Matriculation School to educate underprivileged children. The petitioner's husband G.Srinivasan passed away on 26.06.2025, leaving the petitioner as his sole surviving legal heir. The petitioner applied online for a legal heir certificate on 04.08.2025, but the same was rejected. Hence, the present petition has been filed.

3. The learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents 1 to 4 would submit that the petitioner's application has not been rejected and the authorities only require the statement of the petitioner regarding the death of her son in the year 1991, and based on such statement, the legal heir certificate will be issued to the petitioner.

4. In such view of the matter, let the 4th respondent issue a legal heir certificate after recording the statement of the petitioner with regard to the death of her son in the year 1991 and thereafter, issue the legal heir certificate to the petitioner. Since she is the only sole surviving Class-I legal heir of her husband, G.Sreenivasan, the said exercise shall be completed within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

5. With the above directions, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 17-12-2025 mrp Speaking/Non-speaking order

To 1.The Secretary Revenue And Disaster Management Department Fort St.George Chennai 09 2.The District Collector Chennai District Chennai 01 3.The Revenue Divisional Officer Chennai South, Guindy Chennai 4.The Tahsildar Mambalam Taluk, Chennai 33

5. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras, Chennai

N.SATHISH KUMAR J.

mrp 17-12-2025