S. MANIKUMAR, J.

Claiming himself to be the General Secretary of Southern Dry Land Farmers Association and a public interest litigant, petitioner has sought for a writ of mandamus, directing the respondents 2 to 6 to initiate the process of identifying and recording the details of the legal heirs in succession of the lands of 287 deceased patta holders and consequently, prayed for a direction to the above said respondents to transfer patta to those 287 pattadhars in succession under Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Patta Pass Book Act, 1983 read with Rules 3 and 4 of the Tamil Nadu Patta Pass Book Rules, 1987 on the basis of the proceedings of the fifth respondent in OMAA6/9744/13, dated 12.8.2013, pertaining to Boothalapuram Revenue Village, Vilathikulam Taluka, Thoothukudi District.

2. In support of the relief sought for, Mr. D. Gurusamy, learned counsel for the petitioner, contended that, the revenue officials are duty bound to initiate enquiry, verify records and to order transfer of patta to the legal heirs of 287 deceased pattadhars. The learned counsel for the petitioner further