Panner Selvam v. The District Collector

ORDER This writ petition has been filed challenging the impugned proceedings of the first respondent dated 06.11.2025 rejecting the petitioner's application said to have been submitted under Section 28A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (in short "the Act") on the ground that there is no evidence available with the respondents to prove that the petitioners had in fact submitted their application on 04.12.1995 under Section 28A of the Act seeking for enhancement of the compensation.

¶2Admittedly, the land which is the subject matter of this writ petition was acquired by the respondents as per the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act and the said acquisition has also attained finality. For an application to be filed under Section 28A of the Act seeking for enhancement of the compensation, necessarily, the said application will have to be submitted within a period of three months from the date of the award.

¶3The respondents have categorically stated before this Court that the application said to have been submitted by the petitioner on 04.12.1995 under Section 28A of the Act was never received by them. The petitioner has also not produced any proof by way of clinching evidence to prove that the said Page9 of 11 applications dated 04.12.1995 was submitted with the respondents under Section 28A of the Act.

¶4As observed earlier, any application filed under Section 28A of the Act seeking for enhancement of compensation will have to be submitted within a period of three months from the date of the award. Admittedly, the award for which enhancement of compensation is sought for by the petitioners is of the year 1995. The petitioner has filed this writ petition after a lapse of more than 30 years from the date of the award. Even assuming that the petitioner's contention that he submitted an application under Section 28A of the Act on

04.12.1995 is true, his failure to take any further steps or pursue appropriate legal action for a period of 30 years indicate a lapse on their part in approaching the proper legal forum to adjudicate their rights.

¶5Since there is no evidence placed on record to prove that the petitioner had submitted application on 04.12.1995 under Section 28A of the Act with the respondents, the question of entertaining this writ petition after a lapse of more than 30 years from the date of the award does not arise. If the same is entertained, it will amount to entertaining a cause of action, which is hopelessly barred by limitation.

¶6For the foregoing reasons, this Court does not find any merit in this writ petition on the ground of latches. Accordingly, this writ petition is Page10 of 11 dismissed. No Costs. Consequently, writ miscellaneous petition is closed. 24-03-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order RKA To

¶1The District Collector Dharmapuri District, Dharmapuri.

¶2The Revenue Divisional officer /LAO O/o.The Revenue Divisional office, Harur, Dharmapuri District.

¶3The Revenue Divisional officer/ LAO O/o.The Revenue Divisional office, Dharmapuri, Dharmapuri District.

¶4The Revenue Divisional officer/ LAO O/o.The Revenue Divisional office, Krishnagiri, Krishnagiri District.

¶5The Executive Engineer Public Works Department (Water Resources Organization) Mel Pennar Vadi Nila Kottam Dharmapuri.

¶6The Chief Engineer (Water Resources Organization) Chepauk, Chennai-600 005.

¶7The Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Land Administration Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai-05.

¶8The Principal Secretary Water Resources Department, Secretariat, Chennai-09. WPoNo.o10404oofo2026 ABDULoQUDDHOSE,oJ. RKA WPoNo.o10404oofo2026 24-03-2026 Page11oofo11

Page1 of 11 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 24-03-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE 1. Panner Selvam S/o.T.Raji Gounder Peramandapatty Village, K-Eechampadi, Post, Karimangalam TK, 2. Krishnan S/o. late Nagan, Residing at Pallampatty Village, E-Agragaram Tharappu,Karimangalam Tk, 3. Subramani S/o. late Pachiappagounder Residing at Pallampatty Village, E-Agragaram Tharappu,Karimangalam Tk, 4. Manikandan S/o. late Palaniammalmottaiyan Residing at Pallampatty Village, E-Agragaram Tharappu,Karimangalam Tk, 5. Chinnammal W/o.Chinnagovindan Residing at Pallampatty Village, E-Agragaram Tharappu,Karimangalam Tk, 6. Chinnamariappan S/o.Perumal Residing at Pallampatty Village, E-Agragaram Tharappu,Karimangalam Tk, 7. Sakkariammal W/o. Vediappan Residing at Pallampatty Village, E-Agragaram Tharappu,Karimangalam Tk, Page2 of 11 8. Velayutham S/o.Vedikolandai Residing at Pallampatty Village, E-Agragaram Tharappu,Karimangalam Tk, 9. Perumal S/o. late Saraiyan @ Rakkappan Residing at Pallampatty Village, E-Agragaram Tharappu,Karimangalam Tk, 10.Kangaraj S/o.Perumal Residing at Pallampatty Village, E-Agragaram Tharappu,Karimangalam Tk, 11.Manikandan S/o.Kaliappan Muthu Residing at Pallampatty Village, E-Agragaram Tharappu,Karimangalam Tk, 12.Sakthivel S/o. late Pachiappan Residing at Pallampatty Village, E-Agragaram Tharappu,Karimangalam Tk, 13.Perumal S/o.Neelavathi Kulandai Gounder Residing at Pallampatty Village, E-Agragaram Tharappu,Karimangalam Tk, 14.Theerthamalai S/o.Jadaiyan Residing at Pallampatty Village, E-Agragaram Tharappu,Karimangalam Tk, 15.Sakthivel S/o.Maripoosari Residing at Pallampatty Village, E-Agragaram Tharappu,Karimangalam Tk, 16.Rajammal W/o.Late Muthuvedi Residing at Pallampatty Village, E-Agragaram Tharappu,Karimangalam Tk, Page3 of 11 17.Kannu S/o.Kooni @ pacha Gounder Residing at Pallampatty Village, E-Agragaram Tharappu,Karimangalam Tk, 18.Nehru S/o. Govindan Residing at Pallampatty Village, E-Agragaram Tharappu,Karimangalam Tk, 19.Palanisamy S/o.Rajigowran Residing at Pallampatty Village, E-Agragaram Tharappu,Karimangalam Tk, 20.Thirunavukkarasu S/o.Kumaragouner Residing at Eechampadi Village, Dharmapuri District. 21.Palaniammal W/o. Arumugam Residing at Eechampadi Village, Dharmapuri District. 22.Rajamani S/o.Periyasamygounder, Residing at Gettupatty Village, Navalai Tharappu Post, Harur TK, Dharmapuri District. 23.Santhammal D/o.Rajammal Gopal Residing at Gettupatty Village, Navalai Tharappu Post, Harur TK, Dharmapuri District. 24.Gokila D/in law late Perumal Gounder Residing at Gettupatty Village, Navalai Tharappu Post, Harur TK, Dharmapuri District. 25.Krishnaveni D/o.Marikanikkaran @ Ponnan Residing at Peramandappatty Village, K-Eechampadi Post, Page4 of 11 Kariamangalam TK, 26.Ponmmani S/o.Sekar Residing at Peramandappatty Village, K-Eechampadi Post, Kariamangalam TK, 27.Ravi S/o.Raji Residing at Peramandappatty Village, K-Eechampadi Post, Kariamangalam TK, 28.Sivakumar S/o.Duraismy Residing at Peramandappatty Village, K-Eechampadi Post, Kariamangalam TK, 29.Ezilarasan S/o. Kanakasabapathy Residing at Peramandappatty Village, K-Eechampadi Post, Kariamangalam TK, 30.Rajamani S/o.Kannupaiyan Residing at Peramandappatty Village, K-Eechampadi Post, Kariamangalam TK, 31.K.Mahendran S/o. Kannan Residing at Peramandappatty Village, K-Eechampadi Post, Kariamangalam TK, 32.C.Sasikumar S/o.P.P.Chinnasamy Residing at Peramandappatty Village, K-Eechampadi Post, Kariamangalam TK, Page5 of 11 33.C.Sasikumar S/o.P.P.chinnasamy Residing at Peramandappatty Village, K-Eechampadi Post, Kariamangalam TK, 34.Manokaran S/o.Jadaiyan Residing at Peramandappatty Village, K-Eechampadi Post, Kariamangalam TK, 35.Adimoolam S/o. Vellaiyagounder Residing at Peramandappatty Village, K-Eechampadi Post, Kariamangalam TK, 36.Janagi W/o. Ponnusamy Residing at Peramandappatty Village, K-Eechampadi Post, Kariamangalam TK, 37.Mayil W/o.Ponnusamy Residing at Peramandappatty Village, K-Eechampadi Post, Kariamangal