Sethu K v. The Additional Secretary

O R D E R This Writ Petition has been filed seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the fourth respondent to conclude the enquiry proceedings pending in File No. A6/2522/2024, dated 27.08.2024 and to pass final orders within a time as may be stipulated by this Court.

¶2With the consent of the parties, this Writ Petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.

¶3The grievance of the petitioner is that the subject properties, measuring about 1700 acres, situated at Annavaasal Village, Manamadurai Taluk, Sivagangai District, are the petitioner's ancestral properties. The petitioner's predecessors and the petitioner have been in continuous and uninterrupted possession and enjoyment of the said lands Page No. 2 of 7 from time immemorial. The subject land was originally granted to the petitioner's ancestors under the Inam tenure. The rights of the petitioner's ancestors were recognized as early as 25.02.1855, as evidenced by Receipt No. 21 and the land was duly entered in the Inam Fair Register at Serial No.77, Patta No. 944, confirming the extent and ownership.

¶4Subsequently, during the Survey and Land Records (SLR) proceedings in the year 1952, the land was surveyed and assigned separate survey numbers. Despite the abolition of Inam and the conversion into Ryotwari tenure, the petitioner's physical possession and cultivation of the land remained undisturbed and the petitioner has continued to pay statutory levies and land revenue to the Government till date. However, the revenue records were not updated to reflect the petitioner's lawful ownership in the digital era and there have been attempts by third parties to manipulate the records.

¶5Consequently, the petitioner submitted detailed representations to the respondents on 08.10.2019, 14.05.2020, 23.06.2020 and 08.03.2024, requesting issuance of patta in the petitioner's name based on the historical Inam records and the petitioner's continuous possession. The Page No. 3 of 7 petitioner also preferred a petition before the first respondent seeking immediate action on the petitioner's representation dated 17.05.2024.

¶6After persistent follow-up, the third respondent took cognizance of the petitioner's grievance and issued proceedings vide Ref. No. R.K.A. 3/2726/2024 dated 28.06.2024, explicitly acknowledging the need to verify the records relating to patta transfer and directing the fourth respondent to take necessary action and submit a report regarding the further steps taken.

¶7The first respondent, through proceedings in Oo.Mu.Va.Ni. 7(1)/P/370/2024 dated 13.08.2024, also directed the second respondent to furnish information regarding the action taken on the petitioner's representation.

¶8The fourth respondent, vide proceedings in File No. A6/2522/2024 dated 27.08.2024, directed the fifth respondent to submit a report within a period of one week. Despite the specific direction issued by the fourth respondent, more than 17 months have elapsed and no final orders have been passed till date. Page No. 4 of 7

¶9The learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents, on instructions, would submit that the enquiry would be completed and appropriate orders would be passed by the second and fourth respondents within a period of twelve weeks.

¶10Recording the above submission and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the second and fourth respondents to conclude the enquiry in File No.A6/2522/2024 dated 27.08.2024 and pass appropriate orders on its merits and in accordance with law within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The second and fourth respondents are also directed to provide a reasonable opportunity of hearing to the petitioner and any other interested parties who may be affected by such decision, before passing any order. There shall be no order as to costs. [K.SURENDER, J.]

30.01.2026 JEN Index : Yes / No Page No. 5 of 7 To

1.The Additional Secretary, Commissioner of Revenue Administration, Chennai - 600 005.

2.The District Collector, Sivagangai District, Collectorate, Sivagangai.

3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Sivagangai Revenue Division, Sivagangai District.

4.The Tahsildar, Manamadurai Taluk, Sivagangai District.

5.The Zonal Deputy Tahsildhar, Manamadurai Taluk, Sivagangai District. Page No. 6 of 7 K.SURENDER

, J.

JEN

30.01.2026 Page No. 7 of 7

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 30.01.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.SURENDER K.Sethu ... Petitioner Vs. 1.The Additional Secretary, Commissioner of Revenue Administration, Chennai - 600 005. 2.The District Collector, Sivagangai District, Collectorate, Sivagangai. 3.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Sivagangai Revenue Division, Sivagangai District. 4.The Tahsildar, Manamadurai Taluk, Sivagangai District. 5.The Zonal Deputy Tahsildhar, Manamadurai Taluk, Sivagangai District. ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the fourth respondent to conclude the enquiry proceedings pending in File No.A6/2522/2024 dated Page No. 1 of 7 27.08.2024 and pass final orders within a stipulated time period that may be fixed by this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.M.Divakaran For Respondents : Mr.D.Sadiq Raja Additional Government Pleader *****