M.Muthukaruppan v. The Director
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 11.03.2026
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN W.P(MD)Nos.4225 to 4242 of 2026 (18 cases) W.P(MD)No.4225 of 2026:
M.Muthukaruppan ... Petitioner vs.
1.The Director, Directorate of Adi-Dravidar and Tribal Welfare, Ezhilagam Annex, Chepauk, Chennai - 600 005.
2.The District Collector, Sivagangai District, Sivagangai.
3.The Revenue Divisional Officer/Sub-Collector, Devakottai, Sivagangai District.
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4.The Tahsildar, Karaikudi Taluk, Karaikudi, Sivagangai District.
... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the third respondent herein to issue a 'Scheduled Tribe-Hindu Kattunayakan Community Certificate' to the petitioner's daughter M.Srinithi in light of the Anthropology Report vide proceedings in O.Mu.Aa3/5950/2025 dated 19.08.2025, within a stipulated time as may be fixed by this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.P.Saravana Kumar For Respondents : Mr.S.P.Maharajan Special Government Pleader COMMON ORDER (Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.) The petitioners have filed the present Writ Petitions seeking a direction to the third respondent to issue Scheduled Tribe - Hindu Kattunayakan Community Certificates to the petitioners' daughters and sons respectively, in the light of the Anthropology Report in proceedings dated 19.08.2025.
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2.According to the petitioners, they belong to the Hindu Kattunayakan Community, which falls under the category of Scheduled Tribe. The petitioners have been residing permanently in Sivagangai District and also in other Districts such as Madurai, Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Theni and Dindigul. These migrations occurred mainly through marriages, wherein women from their area married into families residing in the above-mentioned Districts. It is further stated that members of their community marry within their sub-clans and community groups in accordance with their respective lineage. 3.Earlier, when the petitioners applied for ST - Hindu Kattunayakan Community Certificates, they were compelled to obtain Thottiyanayakkar Community Certificates, which are classified under the Most Backward Class (MBC) category. In such circumstances, one V. Kannan filed a Writ Petition in W.P(MD) No.2845 of 2017 seeking a direction to the Revenue Divisional Officer therein to issue Hindu ST Kattunayakan Community Certificates upon surrendering the 3/10
Thottiyanayakkar Community Certificates. The said Writ Petition was disposed of directing the respondents therein to consider the application. Pursuant to the said direction, the Tribal Welfare Officer, Ooty, submitted a detailed report stating that nearly 175 Hindu ST Kattunayakan Community Certificates were issued by conducting a special camp. 4.Further, according to the petitioners, many of their relatives residing in the Srirangam area of Trichy District were issued ST Kattunayakan Community Certificates in the year 2017. Despite submitting representations from the year 2019 onwards, their applications are still pending, with the online remarks of the third respondent stating that the parents' community certificates were not enclosed and hence recommending rejection. Citing the very same online remarks, one Susai filed a Writ Petition before this Court in W.P.(MD) No.21875 of 2024 and this Court, by order dated 26.09.2025, allowed the said Writ Petition directing the respondents therein to issue Community Certificates to the petitioner's children.
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5.It is the contention of the petitioners that, in view of the Anthropology Report dated 19.08.2025 and the order passed by this Court in W.P.(MD) No.21875 of 2024 dated 26.09.2025, the third respondent is bound to issue the Community Certificates. Hence, the petitioners have filed the present Writ Petitions.
6.The learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondent, on instructions, submitted that as per G.O.(Ms)No.104, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare (CV1) Department, dated 21.08.2023, detailed instructions have been issued regarding the procedure for issuance of SC/ST Community Certificates, which reads as follows: "(1) The application for grant of social status certificate shall be made to the Tahsildars (in case of Scheduled Castes) and Revenue Divisional Officers/ SubCollectors/ Assistant Collectors/ Personal Assistant (General) to Collector of Chennai (in case of Scheduled Tribes).
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(2) The authority competent to issue the community certificate, on receipt of the application, shall investigate the application in an open and transparent fashion, affording opportunity of hearing.
(3) On receipt of the application from the candidate, the competent Revenue officer authorized for issuing Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Community Certificates shall himself visit the candidate's local place of residence and make enquiries with the candidates; his parent/ guardian; blood relatives; local residents (tribes and non-tribes); such other persons who have knowledge of the social status of the candidate, local revenue officers such as VAO, RI; etc., in an open and transparent fashion.
(4) On completion of due inquiry and proper verification of records/documents collected during the field enquiry, the above authority has the following three options for disposal of such applications:- (i) The competent authority (RDO / Tahsildar) can issue the certificate applied for, if he is fully satisfied. (ii) If it is found after due inquiry that the request is not feasible of compliance, the competent authority can reject it and issue a speaking order to the applicant and 6/10
close the papers.
(iii) If the application is submitted with insufficient details or if it is found that additional details are required after inquiry, the authority can direct the applicant to renew the request with full details in a complete shape and close the papers.
(Secretary to Government, Adi-Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, Secretariat, Chennai D.O.Lr.No. 2223/CV 1/2007-1 Dated: 12.12.2007)
(5) In the cases, where the issuing authority is fully satisfied that the claim of the candidate or parent or guardian, as the case may be, that he belong to that community is correct, the above authority shall issue the permanent Community Certificate card to the candidate concerned.
(6) The competent authority while issuing the community certificate, should consider the Scheduled Tribe community issued in favour of the parents and close relatives of the applicants, subject to verification of the relationship and until the above Scrutiny Committee, the competent authority should accept the same and issue Scheduled Tribe Community Certificate to the applicants. 7/10
It is also submitted that in G.O.(Ms.) No.235, Revenue [RA3(2)] Department, dated 26.06.2015 and G.O.(Ms.) No.147, Revenue (RA-3(2)] Department, dated 17.03.20216, orders have been issued for providing the following appellate authority for issuance of Scheduled Tribe Community Certificates:- Community Issuing Authority Appellate Authority Redressal of Grievances Scheduled Tribes RDO District Collector State Level Scrutiny Committee 7.In view of the aforesaid Government Order, the Revenue Divisional Officer is the competent authority to issue the Community Certificate. Accordingly, the petitioners are directed to make fresh applications and produce all relevant materials and previous proceedings before the third respondent within a period of one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Upon receipt of the same, the third respondent is directed to consider the applications of the petitioners, conduct a detailed enquiry, and pass appropriate orders on merits and in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of three months thereafter.
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8.With the above directions, these Writ Petitions are disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.
[N.S.K.,J.] [M.J.R.,J.] 11.03.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes ps Note: Registry is directed to type full cause-title, while issuing this order.
To 1.The Director, Directorate of Adi-Dravidar and Tribal Welfare, Ezhilagam Annex, Chepauk, Chennai - 600 005.
2.The District Collector, Sivagangai District, Sivagangai.
3.The Revenue Divisional Officer/Sub-Collector, Devakottai, Sivagangai District.
4.The Tahsildar, Karaikudi Taluk, Karaikudi, Sivagangai District.
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N.SATHISH KUMAR , J.
and M.JOTHIRAMAN , J.
ps ORDER MADE IN W.P(MD)Nos.4225 to 4242 of 2026 (18 cases) DATED : 11.03.2026 10/10