S.Chella Bharathi v. The Revenue Divisional Officer

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 24.06.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.SOUNTHAR 1.S.Chella Bharathi 2.B.Aboorva Shri ... Petitioners Vs.

1.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Madurai.

2.The Tahsildar, Madurai North Taluk, Madurai.

3.The Deputy Tahsildar, Koolapandi Division, Madurai.

4.J.Jayalakshmi 5.M.Rajeshwari 6.S.Thaniyalakshmi 7.Gnanamuthu ... Respondents Prayer :- Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India,

praying for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, to direct the first respondent to complete the enquiry proceeding initiated in O.Mu.No.2116/2024/B, dated 19.06.2024 and pass final orders on merits in accordance with law within the time fixed by this Court.

For Petitioners : Mr.H.Arumugam For R1 to R3 : Mr.A.Baskaran Additional Government Pleader For R4 to R7 : Mr.G.Rajendran Chakkravarthi

ORDER

The petitioners herein seek a direction to the first respondent to complete the enquiry initiated by him in O.Mu.No.2116/2024/B, dated 19.06.2024 and to pass final orders in accordance with law within the time stipulated by this Court.

2.Heard the arguments of Mr.H.Arumugam, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, Mr.A.Baskaran, learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents 1 to 3 and Mr.G.Rajendran Chakkravarthi, learned counsel appearing for the respondents 4 to 7. By consent of both sides, this Writ Petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.

3.According to the petitioners, the property situated in Survey Nos. 5/1 and 5/2, Pothumbu Bit-I Village, Madurai North Taluk, Madurai District, belonged to their family and the respondents 4 to 7 obtained patta for the said property in their names fraudulently. Hence, the petitioners submitted an appeal before the first respondent on 11.03.2024 seeking cancellation of the patta issued in the names of the respondents 4 to 7. Based on the said appeal submitted by the petitioners, the first respondent, in his proceedings in O.Mu.No.2116/2024/B, dated 19.06.2024, directed the second respondent to submit a report on the claim made by the petitioners to enable him to pass final orders. Till date, the third respondent has not filed any report. Hence, the proceeding is still pending on the file of the first respondent even after lapse of one year. Therefore, the petitioners have come before this Court with the above mentioned prayer.

4.The learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents 1 to 3 would submit that the proceeding pending on the file of the first respondent will be completed within the time stipulated by this Court.

5.The learned counsel appearing for the respondents 4 to 7 would submit that the private respondents independently filed an appeal on 24.03.2025 and the same may be directed to be considered along with the appeal preferred by the petitioners.

6.In view of the same, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter, the first respondent is directed to consider the appeal submitted by the petitioners dated 11.03.2024 along with the appeal filed by the private respondents 4 to 7 dated 24.03.2025 and to complete the enquiry initiated by him in O.Mu.No.2116/2024/B, dated 19.06.2024 within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, after affording a reasonable opportunity to the petitioners, private respondents 4 to 7 and other interested parties. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. 24.06.2025 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes/No Internet : Yes/No cp

To 1.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Madurai.

2.The Tahsildar, Madurai North Taluk, Madurai.

3.The Deputy Tahsildar, Koolapandi Division, Madurai.

S.SOUNTHAR ,J cp W.P.(MD)No.17039 of 2025 Dated: 24.06.2025