Palanivel Chettiar V v. The District Collector
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 22.04.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE P.B. BALAJI and W.M.P.(MD)Nos.8462, 8464 and 8467 of 2025 Palanivel Chettiar.V ... Petitioner Vs.
1. The District Collector Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli.
2. The Commissioner Directorate of School Education, DPI Complex College Road, Chennai.
3. The District Chief Educational Officer, Collectorate Office, Tirunelveli,
4. The District Revenue Officer Collectorate Office, Tirunelveli, 1/6
5. The Sub Collector Cheranmahadevi,
6. The Thasildhar Ambasamudram Taluk, Ambasamudram,
7. The Government High Secondary School, Rep. by its Principal, Mannarkovil Village, Ambasamudram Taluk, ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the record relating to the impugned order of the 6th respondent in Na.Ka. Aa4/395/2023 dated 12.03.2025 and quash the same as illegal and consequently direct the 5th respondent to conclude the proceedings in Na.Ka.No.AA2/7441/2022, dated 18.11.2022 and Na.Ka.No.Aa2/ 7627 / 2024 dated 18.09.2024 within the time fixed by this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.N.Vignesh For Respondents : Mr.M.Lingadurai Special Government Pleader 2/6
ORDER
The petitioner challenges the order of the Tahsildar passing final order, rejecting the petitioner's request as directed by the order of the Tahsildar usurping the jurisdiction of the District Revenue Officer, for correction in the entries in the revenue records and for issuing patta in the name of the petitioner.
2. I have heard Mr.N.Vignesh, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr.M.Lingadurai, learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents.
3. The petitioner has only made an application before the District Revenue Officer for correction of the entries in the revenue records and for issuing patta in the name of the petitioner.
4. On 10.11.2022, the petitioner has made an application to the District Revenue Officer / fourth respondent, to rectify mistakes in revenue records and issue patta. The District Revenue Officer has 3/6
forwarded the files to the fifth respondent / Tahsildar, for conducting enquiry and forwarding a report. However, the 6th respondent, on instructions of the fifth respondent conducted enquiry and passed final orders. The grievance of the petitioner is that the competent authority is only the 4th respondent / District Revenue Officer and at best the respondents 5 and 6 could have given the report for consideration before the fourth respondent.
5. In view of the fact that the competent authority is the 4th respondent, the impugned order passed by the 6th respondent is set aside, with a direction to the 4th respondent to hear the petitioner, after giving a fair opportunity to the petitioner to put forth all his contentions, meeting the report of the 6th respondent and thereafter taking into account the petitioner's claim as well as the report of the 6th respondent and also the construction of public utility building in the subject lands, the fourth respondent shall pass final orders within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
6. This Writ Petition is allowed and the impugned order of the 6th 4/6
respondent is set aside with the above directions. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed. Index : Yes / No NCC : Yes / No 22.04.2025 LS To
1. The District Collector Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli.
2. The Commissioner Directorate of School Education, DPI Complex College Road, Chennai.
3. The District Chief Educational Officer, Collectorate Office, Tirunelveli,
4. The District Revenue Officer Collectorate Office, Tirunelveli,
5. The Sub Collector Cheranmahadevi, Tirunelveli District.
5/6
P.B. BALAJI , J.
LS
6. The Thasildhar Ambasamudram Taluk, Ambasamudram,
7. The Government High Secondary School, Rep. by its Principal, Mannarkovil Village, Ambasamudram Taluk, Order made in Dated:
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