Karthikeyan v. The Secretary

Page1 of 8 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 04-03-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE KRISHNAN RAMASAMY Karthikeyan ..Petitioner(s) Vs

¶1The Secretary, Adi Dravidar And Tribal Welfare Department, Fort St. George, Chennai 600 009.

¶2The District Collector, Thiruvannamalai Collector Office, Thiruvannamalai.

¶3The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Arani, Thiruvannamalai District.

¶4The District Forest Officer, Thiruvannamalai District, Thiruvannamalai.

¶5The District Forest Welfare Officer, Thiruvannamalai.

¶6The District of Tribal Welfare, Ezhilagam Chepauk, Chennai 600 005.

¶7The Chief Forest Conservator, Panagal Maligai, Saidapet Chennai 600 015.

¶8The Project Officer, Tribal Welfare Office District Collector's Office Campus, Page2 of 8 Thiruvannamalai.

¶9The Tahsildar, Jamuna Marathur Jawadhu Hills, Thiruvannamalai District.

10.The Special Tahsildar, Taluk Office, Polur, Thiruvannamalai District.

11.The Forest Ranger, Nedanur Jawadhu Hills, Jamanu Marathur Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District. ..Respondent(s) WP No. 34383 of 2023 Duraisamy ..Petitioner(s) Vs

¶1The Secretary, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, Fort St. George, Chennai 600 009.

¶2The District Collector, Thiruvannamalai Collector Office, Thiruvannamalai.

¶3The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Arani, Thiruvannamalai District.

¶4The District Forest Officer, Thiruvannamalai District, Thiruvannamalai.

¶5The District Forest Welfare Officer, Thiruvannamalai.

¶6The District of Tribal Welfare, Page3 of 8 Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai 600 005.

¶7The Chief Forest Conservator, Panagal Maligai, Saidapet, Chennai 600 015.

¶8The Project Officer, Tribal Welfare Office District Collector's Office Campus, Thiruvannamalai.

¶9The Tahsildar, Jamuna Marathur Jawadhu Hills, Thiruvannamalai District.

10.The Special Tahsildar, Taluk Office, Polur, Thiruvannamalai District.

11.The Forest Ranger, Nedanur Jawadhu Hills, Jamanu Marathur Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District. ..Respondent(s) Prayer in W.P.No.34379 of 2023: This writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the 2nd respondent to issue patta in favour of the petitioner name as per the Forest Right No.234 for an extent of 6 Acres situated at Vaazthombaai (Mandaparai) Verapannur Village Panchayat, Jamuna Marathur Taluk Jawad Hills, Thiruvannamala District. Prayer in W.P.No.34383 of 2023: This writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the 2nd respondent to issue patta in favour of the petitioner name as per the Forest Right No235 for an extent of 10 Acres situated at Vaazthombaai (Mandaparai) Page4 of 8 Verapannur Village Panchayat, Jamuna Marathur Taluk Jawad Hills, thiruvannamala District. In both W.Ps., For Petitioner(s) : Mr.C.Mariappan For Respondent(s) : Mr.C.Gowthamaraj, GA COMMON ORDER These writ petitions are filed to direct the second respondent to issue patta in favour of the petitioners as per the Forest Right Nos.234 & 235 for an extent of 10 & 6 acres respectively, situated at Vaazthombaai (Mandaparai) Verapannur Village Panchayat, Jamuna Marathur Taluk Jawad Hills, thiruvannamala District.

¶2Learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that the petitioners are father and son, belongs to Tribal Community. As per Act of Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional forest dwellers recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006 and Rules 2007, the petitioners are entitled for patta. Accordingly, the respondents identified and granted patta to the petitioners for an extent of 3.29 acres and 2.36 acres respectively. Aggrieved over the extent allotted, the petitioners have filed an appeal before the Sub Divisional Level Forest Committee. Pending the same, the petitioners have come forward with these writ petitions, seeking patta for the entire extent of 10 acres and 6 acres respectively. Page5 of 8

¶3Learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents would submit that in the present case, an appeal is pending before the Sub Divisional Level Forest Committee. Without the out come of the said appeal, the petitioners have filed these writ petitions. Accordingly, he prays for dismissal of these writ petitions.

¶4Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record.

¶5In the case on hand, initially, the petitioners have filed an application to grant patta for their lands to an extent of 10 acres and 6 acres respectively. After due consideration, the respondents have allotted 3.29 acres and 2.36 acres to the petitioners respectively. Challenging the said extent, the petitioners have preferred an appeal before the Sub Divisional Level Forest Committee and the same is pending. As rightly contended by the learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents, without the outcome of the said appeal, the petitioners have filed these writ petitions. In the event, the petitioners are aggrieved by the order passed in the appeal before the committee, they can very well challenge the same in the manner known to the law. Therefore, this Court feels that filing these writ petitions in this stage is pre-mature.

Page6 of 8

In the result, these writ petitions stands dismissed. However, liberty is granted to the petitioners to challenge the appeal order in the manner know to law, if it is against them. No costs. 04-03-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order VM To:

¶1The Secretary Adi Dravidar And Tribal Welfare Department Fort St. George Chennai 600 009

¶2The District Collector Thiruvannamalai Collector Office, Thiruvannamalai

¶3The Revenue Divisional Officer Revenue Divisional Office, Arani, Thiruvannamalai District

¶4The District Forest Officer Thiruvannamalai District Thiruvannamalai

¶5The District Forest Welfare Officer, Thiruvannamalai

¶6The District Of Tribal Welfare Ezhilagam Chepauk Chennai 600 005

¶7The Chief Forest Conservator Panagal Maligai, Saidapet Chennai 600 015

¶8The Project Officer Page7 of 8 Tribal Welfare Office District Collectors Office Campus Thiruvannamalai.

¶9The Tahsildar Jamuna Marathur Jawadhu Hills, Thiruvannamalai District

10.The Special Tahsildar Taluk Office, Polur, Thiruvannamalai District

11.The Forest Ranger Nedanur Jawadhu Hills, Jamanu Marathur Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District Page8 of 8 KRISHNAN RAMASAMY J. VM 04-03-2026