R.Valli v. The District Collector

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 17.04.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN R.Valli ... Petitioner vs.

1.The District Collector, Tirunelveli, Tirunelveli District.

2.The Tahsildar, Nanguneri Taluk, Tirunelveli District.

... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the second respondent to take action on the petitioner's representation dated 02.02.2026 and seeking to issue the petitioner's digital community certificates to the petitioner's daughters namely Esai Muthu Bharathi and Mahalakshmi, recognizing them as Hindu Paraiyar (Adi Dravidar) based on the manual 1/6

community certificate Nos.2462/2014 and 2621/2014 within a time frame fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.S.Suresh Manickam For Respondents : Mr.J.Ashok Additional Government Pleader

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.) The petitioner has filed the present Writ Petition seeking a direction to the second respondent to consider the petitioner's representation dated 02.02.2026 and to issue digital community certificates to her daughters, namely Esai Muthu Bharathi and Mahalakshmi, recognizing them as belonging to the Hindu Paraiyar (Adi Dravidar) community, based on the manual community certificates bearing Nos.2462/2014 and 2621/2014, within a time frame to be fixed by this Court. 2.It is the contention of the petitioner that she belongs to the Scheduled Caste Paraiyar community. Her elder daughter, Esai Muthu 2/6

Bharathi, is pursuing the second year of a Diploma course at PSN College, Tirunelveli, and her younger daughter, Mahalakshmi, is studying in the 10th standard at the Government Higher Secondary School, Kalakad, Tirunelveli. The elder daughter secured admission to the Diploma course under the reservation quota and is availing Government scholarship benefits. The petitioner further submits that manual community certificates bearing Nos. 2462/2014 and 2621/2014 had already been issued to her daughters. Pursuant to the request of the educational institution, the petitioner applied for digital community certificates through the e-Sevai portal under REV-101 by fulfilling all required formalities. However, the applications are still pending without any progress. Hence, the present Writ Petition. 3.The learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents produced the community certificates of the petitioner's daughters dated 05.11.2025, wherein it is stated that they had converted to Christianity and, therefore, had obtained community certificates under the 3/6

Backward Class category. The said certificates were also placed before this Court.

4.In view of the above, it is evident that, after conversion to Christianity, the petitioner's daughters have already obtained community certificates under the Backward Class category. In such circumstances, the petitioner's request to restore their earlier Scheduled Caste status based on the certificates issued in the year 2014 cannot be permitted. 5.Accordingly, we do not find any merit in the Writ Petition, and the same stands dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. [N.S.K.,J.] [M.J.R.,J.] 17.04.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes ps 4/6

To 1.The District Collector, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli.

2.The Tahsildar, Nanguneri Taluk, Tirunelveli District.

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N.SATHISH KUMAR , J.

and M.JOTHIRAMAN , J.

ps DATED : 17.04.2026 6/6