Rathika v. The District Collector

Order The petitioner has filed the writ petition to direct the respondents to consider her appeal dated 30.06.2025 to issue a fresh legal heir ship certificate recognizing the petitioner as the legal heir of the petitioners deceased husband P.Rajmohan.

¶2The contention of the petitioner is that she was married to one Mr.P.Rajmohan, who was employed as an Office Assistant in the Tamil Nadu Khadi and Village Industries Board. Unfortunately he passed away while in service on 09.08.2012. After her husband's demise, her mother-in-law suppressing the fact of the presence of the petitioner as his legally wedded wife, had made an application before the 3rd respondent and obtained the legal heirship certificate and also attempted to claim all monetary benefits. Aggrieved by the act of the petitioner's mother in law, she had submitted an application dated 21.04.2025 before the Sub Divisional Executive Magistrate cum Revenue Divisional Officer, seeking cancellation of the legal heirship certificate and also for issuance of a fresh legal heirship certificate. However, the 3rd respondent has rejected the petitioner's application on the ground of delay. Challenging the said rejection order, the petitioner has preferred an appeal dated 30.06.2025 before the 1st respondent. Since the said appeal was not considered, the petitioner has Page3 of 5 preferred this writ petition.

¶3Heard the learned counsel on either side and this Court also perused the records available before it.

¶4Considering the limited request made by the petitioner, this Court without going into the merits of the case, directs the respondents to consider the petitioner's appeal dated 30.06.2025 on merits and in accordance with law and pass a speaking order after affording an opportunity of personal hearing to the petitioner within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

¶5With the above directions, the writ petition is allowed. No costs.

19-02-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order sk Page4 of 5 To

¶1The District Collector District Collectorate Chennai 600001.

¶2District Revenue Officer Chennai District Chennai 600001.

¶3The Revenue Divisional Officer Chennai District Chennai 600032.

¶4The Tahsildar Madhavaram Chennai 600060. Page5 of 5 P.T.ASHA J. sk 19-02-2026

Page1 of 5 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 19-02-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA Rathika ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The District Collector District Collectorate Chennai 600001. 2. District Revenue Officer Chennai District Chennai 600001. 3. The Revenue Divisional Officer Chennai District Chennai 600032. 4. The Tahsildar Madhavaram Chennai 600060. ..Respondent(s) Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for a writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to forthwith consider petitioners appeal dated 30.06.2025 and consequently cancel the earlier legal heirship certificate issued in Certification No. TN-10790-2012-A5 dated 03.09.2012 and further direct the respondents to issue a fresh legal heir ship certificate recognizing the petitioner as the legal heir of the petitioners deceased husband P.Rajmohan or pass. For Petitioner(s): Mr.V.Lakashai Sajin Kumar Page2 of 5 For Respondent(s): Mr.R.Neelakandan, Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.Yogesh Kannadasan, Special Government Pleader for R1 to R4