Senthilvel v. The District Collector

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 01.04.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN Senthilvel ... Petitioner vs.

1.The District Collector, 2.The District Revenue Officer, 3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, 4.The Adi Dravida Welfare Officer, 5.The Special Thasildhar (Adi Dravida Welfare), Nilakottai Taluk, Dindigul District.

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6.The Tahsildhar, 7.Executive Officer, Sevugam Patti Panchayat, Nillkottai Taluk, ... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the first respondent to change the classification of the land, measuring 0.46.0 Ares, in S.No.1086, in Sevugampatti Village, Nilakottai Taluk, Dindigul District as "Government Poramboke Grama Natham" by deleting the wrong entry as "Adi Diravida Natham" in the revenue records in terms of the report by the third respondent dated 08.01.2025.

For Petitioner : Mr.R.Suriya Narayanan For Respondents : Mr.D.Sasi Kumar (R1 to R6) Additional Government Pleader : No appearance (R7) 2/8

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.) The petitioner has filed the present Writ Petition seeking a direction to the first respondent to reclassify the land measuring 0.46.00 ares in Survey No. 1086, situated in Sevugampatti Village, Nilakottai Taluk, Dindigul District, as "Government Poramboke - Grama Natham" by deleting the erroneous entry of "Adi Dravidar Natham" in the revenue records, in terms of the report submitted by the third respondent dated 08.01.2025.

2.The grievance of the petitioner is that the said land is a Government poramboke originally classified as "Grama Natham" and has been used for public purposes such as a road, Anganwadi, borewell and drainage facility. However, after the UDR scheme, the classification has been wrongly altered in the revenue records as "Adi Dravidar Natham", thereby restricting access to the general public. 3/8

3.According to the petitioner, the land was never assigned to the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department and the change in classification is erroneous. It is further stated that the seventh respondent obstructed public access in the year 2019, which led to the filing of W.P(MD) No.18599 of 2019, wherein this Court, by order dated 25.09.2019, directed the authorities to consider the petitioner's representation.

4.Pursuant thereto, the petitioner submitted a representation seeking reclassification of the land as "Grama Natham". Based on the directions issued, the subordinate authorities conducted an enquiry and, in their reports dated 27.10.2021 and 07.04.2022, confirmed that the land was originally "Grama Natham" and had been wrongly classified after UDR, recommending restoration of the original classification. The third respondent, in turn, forwarded a report dated 08.01.2025 to the first respondent recommending reclassification.

5.It is the contention of the petitioner that despite such 4/8

recommendations, no action has been taken by the first respondent, who is the competent authority to rectify such errors, and hence, such inaction is arbitrary and illegal.

6.Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.

7.In view of the above, this Court directs the first respondent/District Collector to consider the report of the third respondent dated 08.01.2025 and pass appropriate orders on merits and in accordance with law, with regard to the reclassification of the land in Survey No.1086, Sevugampatti Village, Nilakottai Taluk, Dindigul District. In the event the first respondent is of the view that such reclassification falls within the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Land Administration, the matter shall be forwarded to the said authority forthwith. Upon such reference, the Commissioner of Land Administration shall consider the same and pass appropriate orders on merits and in accordance with law, as expeditiously as 5/8

possible.

8.With the above directions, this Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs.

[N.S.K.,J.] [M.J.R.,J.] 01.04.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No ps To 1.The District Collector, 2.The District Revenue Officer, 3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, 4.The Adi Dravida Welfare Officer, 5.The Special Thasildhar (Adi Dravida Welfare), 6.The Tahsildhar, 6/8

7.Executive Officer, Sevugam Patti Panchayat, Nillkottai Taluk, 7/8

N.SATHISH KUMAR , J.

and M.JOTHIRAMAN , J.

ps ORDER MADE IN DATED : 01.04.2026 8/8