Proper assessment of the petitioner's right over the disputed survey numbers under the Tamil Nadu Minor Inam Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari Act, 1963 is crucial in granting Patta.

JUDGMENT

(Prayer: This Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records pertaining to the order of the second respondent, the District Revenue Officer, Karur District his Na.Ka.No.C3/16829/2011 dated 25.10.2012 quash the same as illegal and contrary to law and consequence there of direct the respondents to issue patta in the name of the petitioner for the lands in S.Nos.50,54,59,205,206, 209 and 591 in Pavithram Village and S.Nos.201 and 93 in Karudayampalayam of Aravakurichy Taluk, Karur District.)

1. The present writ petition has been filed challenging an order passed by the second respondent herein under which the request of the petitioner for granting Patta for certain survey numbers has been rejected.

2. According to the petitioner, he is the hereditary Poosari of Maruthai Kaliamman Temple in Pavathiram Village, Aravakurichi Taluk, Karur District. The lands in dispute are covered under the Tamil Nadu Minor Inam Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari Act, 1963 (Act 30 of 1963). When the Act came into force, according to the petitioner, Patta was issued in the name of his great grandfather Maruthai Andi Pandaram. After the death of said Maruthai Andi Pandaram, the land was in enjoyment of his son Karumandi Pandaram and then Kuppandy Pandaram who is the father of the writ petitioner herein.

3. According to the writ petitioner, one Maruthandee Pandaram had objected to the issue of ryotwari Patta in the name of his father late Kuppandy Pandaram. The matter was taken to the level of Settlement Tahsildar, Trichy in Karur Taluk Case No.556/1967. The said Settlement Officer by his order dated 15.11.1973, held that the petitioner's father Kuppandy Pandaram was entitled to ryotwari Patta for various survey numbers under Section 8(2)(1)(i) of the Tamil Nadu Minor Inam Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari Act 1963. After death of the petitioner's father, the petitioner had approached the fourth respondent herein for grant of revenue Patta. Since there was no response, the petitioner had presented an application to the first respondent herein.

4. The learned counsel for the petitioner had contended that the third respondent herein passed an order on 02.05.2011 without properly appreciating the order passed by the Settlement Officer on 15.11.1973. Hence, the petitioner preferred a revision petition before the second respondent herein. The second respondent based on extraneous facts, had dismissed the application without considering the mandatory provisions of Act 30 of 1963. The said order was passed on 25.10.2012 which is under challenge in the present writ petition.

5. The learned counsel for the petitioner had further contended that the Settlement Officer under Act 30 of 1963 has passed an order on 15.11.1973 in Karur Taluk Case No.556/1967 granting ryotwari Patta in favour of the writ petitioner's father. Thereafter, the revenue authorities cannot have any objection whatsoever for granting revenue Patta in favour of the petitioner. He had further contended that the impugned order has been passed by the first respondent herein on the ground that he is not in a position to find out whether the petitioner is having any right over the Survey Nos. 50,54,59,205, 206, 209 and 591. In the impugned order, the first respondent has also found that with regard to Survey Nos. 201 and 93, he is at liberty to approach the first respondent again with all the documents. Hence, the learned counsel for the petitioner had contended that there is no ambiguity in the order passed by the Settlement Tahsildar on 15.11.1973 and hence, the first respondent was not right in rejecting the request for Patta on the ground of ambiguity. Hence, he prayed for allowing the writ petition.

6. Per contra, the learned counsel for the private respondents had contended that on the same date namely 15.11.1973 in Karur Taluk Case No. 555/1967, the same Settlement Officer had granted Patta in Survey