R.S.Lakshmi, v. The District Collector,

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 14.07.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM and THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE A.D.MARIA CLETE and W.M.P(MD)No.18970 of 2018 1.R.S.Lakshmi 2.T.S.Gunasekaran 3.K.S.Usha 4.J.Ponithavathi 5.R.S.Vijaya 6.T.K.Lakshmipriya 7.R.V.Subhasini 8.R.S.Gokila 9.R.Manikandan ... Petitioners vs.

1.The District Collector, Madurai District, 2.The Tahsildar, Madurai South Taluk, 1/6

3.The Tahsildar, Thirupparankundram Taluk, Thirunagar, 4.The Tahsildar, Madurai Taluk, Y.Othakkadai, ... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records of the impugned order passed by the first respondent vide Na.Ka.No. 13162/201/J4 dated 21.08.2018 and quash the same as illegal and direct the first respondent to allot free house site patta to all the applicants in Madurai District or any other nearby places.

For Petitioners : Mr.R.Ramachandran For RR 1 to 4 : Mr.V.Om Prakash Government Advocate

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.) The Writ Petition has been instituted challenging the order of the first respondent/the District Collector, Madurai dated 21.08.2018. 2/6

2.The petitioners had submitted applications seeking free house site patta under a Government welfare scheme. Since no action was initiated, the petitioners filed W.P(MD)Nos.4262 to 4266 of 2018, 4541, 7351, 7354 & 7522 of 2018 and this Court disposed of the Writ Petitions directing the District Collector, Madurai to consider the representation and pass appropriate orders. Accordingly, the District Collector, Madurai, conducted an enquiry after affording due opportunity to the parties and passed the impugned order dated 21.08.2018. 3.The order impugned reveals that as per the Government Order in G.O.Ms.No.287, Revenue Ni.Mu.1(2) Department, dated 31.05.2000, an annual income ceiling has been fixed. A person earning more than the prescribed ceiling is not eligible to avail the benefit of a free house site patta under the Government welfare scheme. Since the District Collector, Madurai found that all the applicants were earning over and above the income ceiling fixed by the Government in G.O.Ms.No.287, Revenue Ni.Mu.1(2) Department, dated 31.05.2000, their applications were rejected.

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4.A free house site patta can never be claimed as an absolute right. It is a welfare measure and therefore, the eligibility criteria fixed by the Government is to be scrupulously followed. Free house site pattas are granted only to the homeless poor people and therefore, the income criteria is of paramount importance.

5.In the present case, the petitioners were found to be earning over and above the ceiling fixed by the Government in G.O.Ms.No.287, Revenue Ni.Mu.1(2) Department, dated 31.05.2000. Therefore, this Court does not find any infirmity in respect of the decision taken by the District Collector, Madurai or in the reasons furnished in the order impugned. 6.In view of the above reasons, this Writ Petition stands dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.

[S.M.S.,J.] & [A.D.M.C.,J.] 14.07.2025 (3/7) NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes ps 4/6

To 1.The District Collector, Madurai District, Madurai.

2.The Tahsildar, Madurai South Taluk, 3.The Tahsildar, Thirupparankundram Taluk, Thirunagar, 4.The Tahsildar, Madurai Taluk, Y.Othakkadai, 5/6

S.M.SUBRAMANIAM , J.

and DR.A.D.MARIA CLETE , J.

ps ORDER MADE IN DATED : 14.07.2025 (3/7) 6/6