Chinthamani v. The Land Acquisition Officer / The District Collector

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 18.02.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.SURENDER Chinthamani ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Land Acquisition Officer / The District Collector, Kanyakumari District, Nagercoil.

2.The Special Tahsildar, (Land Acquisition) Railway Unit-1, Anbu Nager, Nagercoil, 3.The Deputy General Manager, Railway Vikas Nigam Ltd., Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli District.

4.The Special Tahsildar, Office of Special Tahsildar, Land Acquisition (Railway), Thiruvananthapuram, Kanyakumari Wing No.2, Division, Azhagiyamandapam, 5.Chellaswamy Page No. 1 of 6

6.Sukumaran 7.Lily Bai ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the first to fourth respondents to conduct enquiry based on the objection of the petitioner dated 22.10.2025 in respect of the property comprised in Old S.No.2321, New S.No.318/14A, of Kaliyakkavilai Village, Vilavancode Taluk, For Petitioner : Mr.P.Sonu For R1, R2 & R4 : Mr.S.Kameswaran Government Advocate For R3 : Mr.A.Haja Mohideen *****

O R D E R

This Writ Petition has been filed seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the first to fourth respondents to conduct an enquiry based on the petitioner's objection dated 22.10.2025 in respect of the property comprised in Old S.No.2321, New S.No.318/14A, Kaliyakkavilai Village, Vilavancode Taluk, Kanyakumari District. Page No. 2 of 6

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 fifth to seventh respondents, as no adverse orders are proposed to be passed against them.

3. The grievance of the petitioner is that the petitioner and the fifth and sixth respondents are brothers. The fifth and sixth respondents, along with two other brothers who died intestate and unmarried, had jointly purchased the subject property. The petitioner is entitled to a 1/3rd share in the estate of his deceased brothers. The first respondent acquired the entire property for laying a railway track. The petitioner was kept in the dark about the acquisition proceedings and the fifth to seventh respondents are attempting to receive the entire compensation, thereby defeating the petitioner's rights in the property by illegal means. Therefore, the petitioner submitted an objection dated 22.10.2025, which has not been considered. Hence, the petitioner has been constrained to file the present Writ Petition.

4. The learned Government Advocate appearing for the first, second and fourth respondents, on instructions, would submit that the petitioner's Page No. 3 of 6

objection dated 22.10.2025 would be considered and appropriate orders would be passed by the first respondent on merits and in accordance with law, within a period of twelve weeks.

5. Recording the above submission and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the first respondent to consider the petitioner's objection dated 22.10.2025, conduct enquiry and pass appropriate orders, on merits and in accordance with law, within a period of twelve (12) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The first respondent is also directed to afford a reasonable opportunity of hearing to the petitioner, the private respondents and any other interested parties who may be affected by such decision, before passing any orders. No costs. [K.SURENDER, J.] 18.02.2026 JEN Index : Yes / No To 1.The Land Acquisition Officer / The District Collector, Kanyakumari District, Nagercoil.

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2.The Special Tahsildar, (Land Acquisition) Railway Unit-1, Anbu Nager, Nagercoil, 3.The Deputy General Manager, Railway Vikas Nigam Ltd., Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli District.

4.The Special Tahsildar, Office of Special Tahsildar, Land Acquisition (Railway), Thiruvananthapuram, Kanyakumari Wing No.2, Division, Azhagiyamandapam, Page No. 5 of 6

K.SURENDER , J.

JEN 18.02.2026 Page No. 6 of 6