K.Sundararajan v. The District Collector

ORDER (Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) Heard.

¶2This writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeks a direction to the first respondent to pass an order in the appeal preferred by the petitioner and others against the proceedings of the fourth respondent dated 24.5.2024.

¶3The grievance of the petitioner is that he belongs to Kaatunayakan Scheduled Tribe community and he made a representation to the fourth respondent to recognize their communal status, for which a request was also made to the Tribal Research Centre by the fourth respondent to enquire the communal status of the petitioner and his people. Upon enquiry, a report dated

18.10.2022 was issued by the third respondent identifying the petitioner and 30 others as eligible for Scheduled Tribe status. Despite the same, the fourth respondent, vide order dated 24.5.2024, rejected the claim of the petitioner. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner has filed an appeal before the first respondent on 7.8.2024. Till date, the first respondent has not passed any order on the said appeal. Hence, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition.

¶4Today when the writ petition is taken up for hearing, learned Government Advocate, on instructions, submitted that the appeal filed by the petitioner will be decided by the first respondent within a period of twelve weeks.

¶5Recording the submission made by learned Government Advocate, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the first respondent to decide the appeal filed the petitioner and others against the proceedings of the fourth respondent dated 24.5.2024 within a period of twelve weeks from the date of a receipt of a copy of this order and thereafter communicate the decision thereon to the petitioner. There shall be no order as to costs. (SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CJ) (G.ARUL MURUGAN,J)

30.04.2026 Index : : bbr To:

1.The District Collector Office of the District Collector Villupuram, Villupuram District

2.The Director Directorate of Tribal Welfare 1st Floor, Ezhilagam Annex Chepauk, Chennai-600 005

3.The Director Tribal Research Centre M.Palada, Uthagamandalam The Nilgiris

4.The Revenue Divisional Officer Dindivanam, Villupuram District

5.The Tahsildar Melmalaiyanur Taluk W.P.No.17038,of,2026 THE,HON'BLE,CHIEF,JUSTICE ,,,,AND ,G.ARUL,MURUGAN,,J., bbr W.P.No.17038,of,2026 ,,,,,

30.04.2026 Page,5,of,5

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 30.04.2026 CORAM : THE HONOURABLE MR. SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN K.Sundararajan S/o.Kuppusamy Vettaikaranpatti Village Valathi Post, Melmalaiyanur Taluk Petitioner Vs 1.The District Collector Office of the District Collector Villupuram, Villupuram District 2.The Director Directorate of Tribal Welfare 1st Floor, Ezhilagam Annex Chepauk, Chennai-600 005 3.The Director Tribal Research Centre M.Palada, Uthagamandalam The Nilgiris 4.The Revenue Divisional Officer Dindivanam, Villupuram District 5.The Tahsildar Melmalaiyanur Taluk Respondents PRAYER : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the 1st respondent to pass an appropriate order in the Appeal made by the petitioner and others against the proceedings of the 4th respondent in A2/1992/2023 dated 24.05.2024 within a time frame that may be fixed by this Hon'ble Court. For Petitioners: Mr.K.Thilageswaran For Respondents: Mr.M.Habeeb Rahman Government Advocate