Anantha Lakshmi .S v. The Principal Secretary To Government

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED :11.09.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY W.P(MD)No.8437 of 2024 and W.M.P.(MD) No.7645 of 2024 S.Anantha Lakshmi ... Petitioner Vs

1. The Principal Secretary to Government, Adi Dravidar and Schedule Tribes Welfare Department, St.George Fort, Chennai-600 009.

2. The Director of Adi Dravidar Welfare Department, Adi Dravidar Welfare, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai-600 005.

3. The District Collector,

4. The District Adi Dravidar Welfare Officer,

5. The Special Tahsildar Adi Dravidar Welfare, 1/6

6. The Tahsildar, Thiruppuvanam Taluk Office, Sivagangai District.

... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the impugned order passed by the fifth respondent in Na.Ka.A2/128/2024 dated 11.03.2024 and quash the same consequently, directing the respondents to return back and repossess the acquired properties in Survey Nos. 369/1A, 1B, 1C, 2, 3, 4 and 5 situated at Ilanthakulam village, Thirupuvanam Taluk, Sivagangai District in favour of the original owner of the acquired properties, namely, K.Natarajan, S/o.Kuppusamy and further directing the respondents to make necessary changes in Revenue and Village Records in respect of the properties.

For Petitioner : Mr. S.Raja For Respondents : Mr.K.Balasubramani Special Government Pleader

O R D E R

The petitioner challenges an order dated 11.03.2024 of the fifth respondent rejecting the petitioner's claim for repossession of the acquired properties.

2. Pursuant to the acquisition proceedings under Act 31 of 1978, 2/6

the land owned by the petitioner's father-in-law K.Natarajan was acquired. The said K.Natarajan challenged the 4(1) notification by filing W.P.No.5035 of 1996. The said Writ Petition was dismissed by an order dated 26.11.2002 by leaving it open to the petitioner therein to work out his remedy in accordance with law with regard to the enhanced compensation. By citing said order, the impugned order came to be issued.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner inherited the property from K.Natarajan and that she continues to remain in possession of the property.

4. In relation to adjacent survey number forming subject of the same acquisition, another person, namely, T.Chandra, had approached this Court in W.P.(MD) No.22059 of 2019. By an order dated 24.07.2023, this Court noticed that the notification under Section 4(1) was issued on 24.02.1996 and that the proceedings were concluded a long time ago. On this basis, the said Writ Petition was dismissed. 3/6

5. As regards the petitioner herein, the original owner, K.Natarajan, had unsuccessfully challenged the acquisition earlier. The petitioner cannot claim greater rights than the rights canvassed by the said K.Natarajan. Therefore, this Writ Petition is dismissed without any order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

NCS : Yes/No 11.09.2025 Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No apd To

1. The Principal Secretary to Government, Adi Dravidar and Schedule Tribes Welfare Department, St.George Fort, Chennai-600 009.

2. The Director of Adi Dravidar Welfare Department, Adi Dravidar Welfare, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai-600 005.

3. The District Collector,

4. The District Adi Dravidar Welfare Officer, 4/6

5. The Special Tahsildar Adi Dravidar Welfare,

6. The Tahsildar, Thiruppuvanam Taluk Office, Sivagangai District.

5/6

SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY.,J.

apd ORDER MADE IN W.P(MD)No.8437 of 2024 11.09.2025 6/6