Sivakumar v. The District Collector
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 04.02.2026
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE G. JAYACHANDRAN AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.K. RAMAKRISHNAN W.P.(MD)No.13192 of 2024 and W.M.P.(MD)No.11675 & 11677 of 2024 Sivakumar ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The District Collector, Tenkasi District, Tenkasi.
2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Tenkasi, Tenkasi District.
3.The Tahsildar, Tenkasi Taluk, Tenkasi District.
4.The Adi Dravidar Welfare Officer, Adi Dravidar Welfare Office, Tenkasi, Tenkasi District.
... Respondents PRAYER:- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records pertaining to the impugned rejection order dated 07.05.2024 passed by the second respondent and quash the same as illegal and consequently, 1/6
direct the second respondent to issue Community Certificate as Hindu Kattunayakkan for the petitioner's daughter namely, S.Santhanamari. For Petitioner : Mr.A.Sankararamasubramanian For Respondents : Mr.S.P.Maharajan (R1 to R4) Special Government Pleader
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by DR.G.JAYACHANDRAN, J.) The petitioner herein claiming that he hails from Kattunayakan community and therefore, he is entitled for Scheduled Tribe Community Certificate, has applied for the same. But, by virtue of the impugned order, the same had been rejected. Hence, the petitioner is before this Court seeking certiorarified mandamus to quash the order passed by the Revenue Divisional Officer on 07.05.2024 and direct him to issue community certificate to the petitioner as he belongs to 'Hindu Kattunayakan community'.
2.On examination of the impugned order, we find that the petitioner has not produced any proof for his community by enclosing community issued by the competent authority for his father, mother or any other relative.
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3.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that he enclosed the community certificate of his blood brother. Further, the same was not considered.
4.As per the prevailing Rules, the application seeking community Certificate for the Kattunayakan community to be verified by higher officers in the Rank of Revenue Divisional Officer and the certificate to be given only by them and not any persons below the rank of Revenue Divisional Officer.
5.In this case, the petitioner claims that he had enclosed the community certificate of his brother and the same was not considered. 6.Taking into consideration the said submission, we are of the view that the impugned order of the second respondent dated 02.05.2024 has to be set aside and fresh opportunity must be given to the petitioner herein to produce all the relevant documents to substantiate his claim and get appropriate certificate.
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7.For the above said purpose, we allow the writ petition and quash the order dated 07.05.2024 passed by the second respondent. The petitioner is permitted to submit a fresh application with all relevant documents for issuance of community certificate forthwith. The second respondent is directed to scrutinize the application and pass orders within a period of two months from the date of receipt of the application. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. There shall be no order as to costs.
[G.J., J.] & [K.K.R.K., J.] 04.02.2026 Index :Yes/No Internet :Yes ta To 1.The District Collector, Tenkasi District, Tenkasi.
2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Tenkasi, Tenkasi District.
3.The Tahsildar, Tenkasi Taluk, Tenkasi District.
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4.The Adi Dravidar Welfare Officer, Adi Dravidar Welfare Office, Tenkasi, Tenkasi District.
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DR.
G. JAYACHANDRAN , J.
AND K.K. RAMAKRISHNAN, J.
ta W.P.(MD)No.13192 of 2024 04.02.2026 6/6