Vijayalakshmi v. The District Collector

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 01.09.2022

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN Vijayalashmi ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The District Collector, Madurai District, 2.The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Board, Madurai District.

3.The Executive Officer / Assistant Commissioner, Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Thirukovil, Thirupparankundram, 4.The Tahsildar, Thirupparankundram Taluk, 5.The Sub Registrar, Thirupparankundram, ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 5th respondent to act accordingly in registering any documents pertaining to the land belonging 1/6

to the petitioner in R.S.No.136/1C in plot No.9 in extended 2187 sq.ft situated at Vanchinathan Street, Sundar Nagar, Thirunagar, Madurai, Ward No.95, after availing detailed report over the said property, within the time frame fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.T.Palanisamy For Respondents : Mr.K.S.Selvaganesan, Addl. Government Pleader.

ORDER

Heard the learned counsel on either side.

2.The petitioner wants to register a document pertaining to the petition mentioned lands. Her case is that it belongs to her and not to the third respondent temple. According to the petitioner, she is at liberty to deal with the property as she deems fit and the registering authority ought to register the document as when presented for registration.

3.While considering a similar issue, the Hon'ble Division Bench in the decision reported in 2017 (3) CTC 135 (Sudha Ravi Kumar and Ors. Vs. The Special Commissioner and Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department and Ors, held as under : 2/6

"25.In view of the above discussions, all the writ petitions are allowed and the impugned orders are set aside with the following directions:

(i) The registering authority before whom the document has been presented shall cause service of notice on the parties to the deeds and also to the objector/religious institution, hold summary enquiry, hear the parties and then either register or refuse to register the document by passing an order having regard to the relevant facts as indicated above. (ii) If the registering authority, refuses to register any document by accepting the objections raised under Section 22A of the Registration Act, the aggrieved may file a statutory appeal under the Act.

(iii) If the objections raised under Section 22-A of the Act by the religious institution are rejected and the document is registered, the remedy for the religious institution is to either approach this Court by way of a writ petition seeking cancellation of the registration or for any other relief or to approach the civil Court for declaration of the title and for other consequential reliefs.

(iv) If the registering authority refuses to register the document acting on the objections raised by a religious institution under Section 22-A of the Registration Act, the parties to the deed will be at liberty to straightaway approach the Civil Court for declaration of title and other relief without availing the opportunity for filing a statutory appeal. 3/6

(v) We further direct that if the deed has already been registered without there being any objection by the religious institution under Section 22-A of the Act, the document shall be returned to the parties concerned leaving it open for the religious institution to approach either the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India or the Civil Court for appropriate relief as indicated above. At any rate, the registering authority shall not withhold the deed which has already been registered."

4.The registering authority shall adhere to the directions set out above. Accordingly, the writ petition stands disposed of. No costs. 01.09.2022 Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No ias To:

1.The District Collector, Madurai District, 2.The Assistant Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Board, Madurai District.

3.The Executive Officer / Assistant Commissioner, Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Thirukovil, Thirupparankundram, Madurai.

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4.The Tahsildar, Thirupparankundram Taluk, 5.The Sub Registrar, Thirupparankundram, 5/6

G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.

ias 01.09.2022 6/6