Annamalaiar Mills Ltd v. A.G.Shankar
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated:11.12.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE G.JAYACHANDRAN AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN WA(MD)No.631 of 2024 and L.P.A(MD)Nos.2 and 3 of 2024 and C.M.P(MD)Nos.4434, 5587 and 5843 of 2024 W.A(MD)No.631 of 2024 1.M/s.Annamalaiar Mills (P) Limited Represented by its Manager, K.Adhibalamoorthi Begambur Post, Vellodu Village, Dindigul District.
2.I.Arockiyam 3.Joseph(died) 4.Exhilarasi Irudaya Shanthi 5.Reshma 6.Jenove Joshma (A4 to A6 are brought on record as Lrs of the deceased 3rd appellant vide Court order dated 11.12.2025) ... Appellants/3rd Parties Vs.
A.G.Shankar ...1st Respondent/Writ Petitioner
2.The District Collector, Dindigul District, Dindigul.
3.The District Revenue Officer, District Revenue Office, Dindigul District, Dindigul.
4.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Dindigul, Dindigul District.
5.The Tahsildar, Dindigul East Taluk, Dindigul District, Dindigul.
6.The Assistant Director of Survey & Settlement Officer, Office of Assistant Director of Survey & Settlement, Dindigul District, Dindigul.
...2 to 6 Respondents/Respondents Prayer: Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent, against the order dated 30.11.2021 passed by this Court in W.P(MD)No.16373 of 2014. For A1 : Mr.K.R.Manimaran For A2,A4toA6 : Mr.I.Romeo Roy Alfred For A3 : Died For R1 : Mr.K.Govindarajan for Mr.T.Palanisamy For R2 to R6 : Mr.Veera Kathiravan, Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.S.R.A.Ramachandran, Additional Government Pleader
LPA(MD)No.2 of 2024 Vasanthamary ...Appellant/Third Party Vs.
1.A.G.Sankar ..First Respondent/Contempt Petitioner 2.Ms.Tamilselvi 3.Jhon Britto ... Respondents PRAYER:- Letters Patent Appeal filed under Section 15 of the Letters Patent Act, against the order passed in Cont.P(md)No.1765 of 2023 dated 29.02.2024 by this Court.
For Appellant : Mr.Mr.I.Romeo Roy Alfred for M/s.R.Vinodhini For R1 : Mr.K.Govindarajan for Mr.T.Palanisamy L.P.A(MD)No.3 of 2024 Felix John Baskar ...Appellant/Third Party Vs.
1.A.G.Sankar ..First Respondent/Contempt Petitioner 2.Ms.Tamilselvi 3.Jhon Britto ... Respondents/Respondents PRAYER:- Letters Patent Appeal filed under Section 15 of the Letters Patent Act, against the order passed in Cont.P(md)No.1765 of 2023 dated 29.02.2024 by this Court.
For Appellant : Mr.Romeo Roy Alfred for M/s.R.Vinodhini For R1 : Mr.K.Govindarajan for Mr.T.Palanisamy *****
JUDGMENT
(Judgment of the Court was delivered by DR.G.JAYACHANDRAN,J.) The writ appeal in W.A(MD)No.631 of 2024 is directed against the order passed by the learned single Judge in W.P(md)No.19285 of 2022 vide order dated 15.02.2023.
2.The writ petition was filed seeking Mandamus to the second respondent to measure the land situated in S.Nos.11/2, 36/1, 34/1, 34/3 and 383/1,2 etc., at Vellodu Village, Dindigul and to issue separate joint holding and fix the meets and bounds in respect of the portion of the petitioner's share. The learned single Judge had passed the following order: "2.The petitioner wants this Court to direct the fourth respondent to survey the petition mentioned lands and based on the survey result issue independent patta. The prayer is not contested by the respondents. They only seek time. The said request made by the respondents cannot be rejected. I direct the fourth respondent to complete survey of the petition mentioned lands within a period of five months from the date
of receipt of a copy of this order. Based on the survey result, patta shall be issued in favour of the petitioner immediately thereafter."
3.The writ appeal filed by the third parties/appellants stating that the writ petitioner is not the absolute owner of the land, he and others are the title holders. While so, without impleading him and others as party in the proceedings, the writ petitioner viz., A.G.Sankar had obtained an order behind the back to survey the land as well as to issue patta in favour of the petitioner.
4.This Court, on perusal of the impugned order, finds that it is patently illegal, since the transfer of patta without conducting enquiry is not permissible under law. Moreover, it has now been brought to the notice of this Court that there are other title holders, and the patta stands in their names. Therefore, the order of the learned single Judge is set aside in respect of issuing patta. It is brought to the notice of this Court that yet another third party, by name John Britto approached this Court by filing a writ petition in W.A(MD)No.2006 of 2023. The division bench of this Court, vide order, dated 22.11.2023, had relegated the parties to settle the title dispute by approaching the civil Court. As regards the survey of the land, it has been
made clear that there is no impediment for the authorities to proceed. In other words, the Division Bench declined the relief of granting patta in favour of the writ petitioner. In order to maintain uniformity and judicial discipline, this Court, therefore, follows the judgment of the Division Bench passed in W.A.(MD) No.2006 of 2023 dated 22.11.2023, since the said order is applicable to all third parties, who have approached the Court either by way of appeal or LPA. Since it is a judgment in rem, the LPA.Nos.2 and 3 of 2024 are also allowed. No order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.
[G.J., J.] & [K.K.R.K., J.] 11.12.2025 Index :Yes/No Internet :Yes Ns
To 1.The District Collector, Dindigul District, Dindigul.
2.The District Revenue Officer, District Revenue Office, Dindigul District, Dindigul.
3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Dindigul, Dindigul District.
4.The Tahsildar, Dindigul East Taluk, Dindigul District, Dindigul.
5.The Assistant Director of Survey & Settlement Officer, Office of Assistant Director of Survey & Settlement, Dindigul District, Dindigul.
DR.
G. JAYACHANDRAN , J.
AND K.K. RAMAKRISHNAN, J.
Ns WA(MD)No.631 of 2024 and L.P.A(MD)Nos.2 and 3 of 2024 and C.M.P(MD)Nos.4434, 5587 and 5843 of 2024 11.12.2025