C.Marriappan v. District Collector

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 27.01.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.SURENDER and W.M.P.(MD) No.1437 of 2026 C.Marriappan, The President, Mela Nadar Street Welfare Committee, Bharathiyar Street, Tiruchendur - 628 215, Thoothukudi District.

... Petitioner Vs.

1.District Collector, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi - 628 101.

2.District Revenue Officer, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi - 628 101.

3.Revenue Divisional Officer, Tiruchendur Division, Tiruchendur - 628 215.

4.Tahshildar, Tiruchendur Taluk, Tiruchendur - 628 215.

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5.Commissioner, Tiruchendur Municipality, Tiruchendur - 628 215.

6.T.Indhira 7.Satyaraj 8.Sudhakar 9.Arputhamani 10.Thanivel 11.A.Murugesan 12.Prahash 13.Kannan 14.Anand 15.Thangam Nadar ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the second respondent to expedite the enquiry with related to the Temple Land situated in Survey No.253/21 (Reclassified Survey No.1441/20), Keela Tiruchendur Village, Tiruchendur Taluk, Thoothukudi District as requested in the representation of the petitioner dated 09.09.2025. For Petitioner : Mr.B.Ramkumar Adityan For R1 to R4 : Mr.N.Ramesh Arumugam Government Advocate Page No. 2 of 7

For R5 : Mr.H.Arumugam Standing Counsel

O R D E R

This Writ Petition has been filed seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the second respondent to consider the petitioner's representation dated 09.09.2025 and to expedite the enquiry relating to the temple land situated in Survey No.253/21 (reclassified Survey No. 1441/20), Keela Tiruchendur Village, Tiruchendur Taluk, Thoothukudi District.

2. With the consent of the parties, this Writ Petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself, dispensing with the notice to the private respondents, as no adverse orders are proposed to be passed against them.

3. The grievance of the petitioner is that the subject land is a patta land belonging to the temple, which has been reclassified as Survey No. 1441/20 (Lane) without any notice to the petitioner with regard to such reclassification. Thereafter, a notice was issued to the petitioner seeking Page No. 3 of 7

eviction from the land on or before 13.02.2018, against which the then office bearer filed an appeal before the third respondent. The third respondent stated that the said notice was issued pursuant to the order of this Court in W.P.(MD) No.8415 of 2017 dated 03.08.2017 and therefore, there was no possibility of entertaining the appeal.

4. Subsequently, this Court, in W.P.(MD) No.4523 of 2018 filed by the then office bearer, directed him to file an appeal. Accordingly, an appeal was filed before the third respondent, which came to be dismissed, against which a Writ Petition in W.P.(MD) No.11736 of 2018 was filed. Meanwhile, though the present President i.e., the petitioner herein filed a revision petition, the same was returned on the ground that the revision had not been filed by the writ petitioner, namely, the previous office bearer.

5. In the said Writ Petition, this Court directed the petitioner to represent the revision, which was directed to be treated as a proper revision and further directed the District Revenue Officer to conduct an enquiry and dispose of the same. Pursuant to the same, the petitioner submitted a revision petition/appeal dated 09.09.2025 before the second respondent. Page No. 4 of 7

However, till date, no action has been taken on the same. On the contrary, the official respondents are attempting to evict the petitioner from the subject land. Hence, the petitioner has been constrained to file the present Writ Petition.

6. The learned Government Advocate appearing for the first to fourth respondents, on instructions, would submit that the enquiry on the petitioner's appeal/revision would be completed and appropriate orders would be passed by the second respondent within a period of eight weeks.

7. Recording the above submissions and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the second respondent to conclude the enquiry on the petitioner's appeal/revision and pass appropriate orders on merits and in accordance with law within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The second respondent is also directed to afford a reasonable opportunity of hearing to the petitioner and any other interested parties who may be affected by such decision, before passing any order. In the event of any rival claims, the parties are at liberty to pursue their remedies before the competent Civil Court. Since, according Page No. 5 of 7

to the petitioner, the officials are attempting to evict the petitioner from the subject property, the official respondents shall maintain status quo till the disposal of the appeal/revision. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. [K.SURENDER, J.] 27.01.2026 JEN Index : Yes / No To 1.District Collector, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi - 628 101.

2.District Revenue Officer, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi - 628 101.

3.Revenue Divisional Officer, Tiruchendur Division, Tiruchendur - 628 215.

4.Tahshildar, Tiruchendur Taluk, Tiruchendur - 628 215.

5.Commissioner, Tiruchendur Municipality, Tiruchendur - 628 215.

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K.SURENDER , J.

JEN 27.01.2026 Page No. 7 of 7