A.Iyappan v. The District Collector
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 27.01.2026
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.SURENDER A.Iyappan ... Petitioner -vs1.The District Collector, Thoothukudi, Thoothukudi District.
2.The Tahsildar, Tiruchendur Taluk, Thoothukudi District.
3.The Tahsildar, Eral Taluk, Thoothukudi District.
... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to allot 5 acres of land in Survey No.1189/6 in Semmarikulam Village, Tiruchendur Taluk, Thoothukudi District or Survey No.160/A in Nattathi Village, Eral Taluk, Thoothukudi District, or any other land in Thoothukudi District to the petitioner for cultivation under Land Concessions to Service Personnel Serving in the Armed Force Scheme, issued by the Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Government of India in No. 25098/XIII/AG/PS5 (B)/961/S/D/(AO-XI) dated 15.06.1965.
For Petitioner : Mr.R.J.Karthick For Respondents : Mr.N.Ramesh Arumugam Government Advocate
ORDER
This Writ Petition has been filed seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to allot five acres of land in Survey No.1189/6, Semmarikulam Village, Tiruchendur Taluk, Thoothukudi District, or in Survey No.160/A, Nattathi Village, Eral Taluk, Thoothukudi District, or any other suitable land in Thoothukudi District, to the petitioner for cultivation under the Land Concessions to Service Personnel Serving in the Armed Forces Scheme, issued by the Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, in No. 25098/XIII/AG/PS5(B)/961/S/D/(AO-XI), dated 15.06.1965.
2. The grievance of the petitioner is that, though he has retired from service in the Indian Army, allotment of five acres of land has not been made despite his application submitted to the respondents 2 and 3 / Tahsildars of the respective Taluks. It is submitted that the petitioner retired from service on 29.02.2024 and that he had applied for allotment of five acres of land as early as in the year 2015, much prior to his retirement. According to the learned counsel for the petitioner,
despite the Central Government having framed a scheme making Army personnel eligible for allotment of land, the petitioner's request has not been considered.
3. The learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents submitted that the petitioner had identified five acres of land in Survey No.1189/6 for allotment under the said scheme. However, the said land is classified as grazing land and, therefore, cannot be allotted to the petitioner under the scheme. Accordingly, the petitioner's request was rejected.
4. Considering the aforesaid submissions, this Court is of the view that it is for the respondents 2 and 3 / Tahsildars to identify suitable land that can be allotted to service personnel in accordance with the scheme framed by the Central and State Governments. If there are any changes in the rules governing such allotment, the same may be duly applied before either allotting the land or rejecting the request. Needless to state, specific and cogent reasons shall be assigned by the respondents 2 and 3 / Tahsildars of the respective Taluks while disposing of the application submitted by the petitioner seeking allotment of land in recognition of his service in the Indian Army. The exercise of considering the
petitioner's application, either for allotment of land or for rejection on the ground of ineligibility, shall be completed as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of four months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
5. With the above observations, this Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs.
NCC : Yes / No (K.SURENDER, J.) Index : Yes / No 27.01.2026 smn2 To:- 1.The District Collector, Thoothukudi, Thoothukudi District.
2.The Tahsildar, Tiruchendur Taluk, Thoothukudi District.
3.The Tahsildar, Eral Taluk, Thoothukudi District.
K.SURENDER , J.
smn2 27.01.2026