The petitioners must exhaust available statutory remedies before approaching the court under Article 226.

ORDER

An order dated 05.07.2024 of the Revenue Divisional Officer is challenged in this writ petition. An interim stay of such order was granted on

31.07.2024 and such order is in force as on date.

2. Learned counsel for the 4^th respondent submits that patta was mutated by misinterpreting the order of interim stay of this Court. He refers to the patta transfer order dated 06.08.2025 in this regard. He also submits that a revision petition has been filed by the petitioners before the District Revenue Officer and submits that such revision petition is pending. He refers to the inquiry notices issued by the District Revenue Officer in such revision petition.

3. On perusal of the inquiry notices, it is clear that the revision petition has been presented by Jegan, who is the 4^th petitioner herein and 3 others. The names of the other petitioners are also shown in the enquiry notice while describing the petitioners therein. The statutory remedy of revision is provided for under the Tamil Nadu Patta Pass Book Act, 1983. Having opted to avail of such statutory remedy, the petitioners cannot prosecute this writ petition.

4. After this writ petition was filed, patta transfer order dated 06.08.2025 has been issued. The 4^th respondent complains that such order was issued by misinterpreting the scope of the interim order of this court. The 4^th respondent is permitted to raise this issue before the District Revenue Officer in the pending revision petition proceedings.

5. In this writ petition, the District Revenue Officer has not been impleaded as the respondent. In view of the pending proceedings, in order to enable a direction to be issued to the District Revenue Officer, the District Revenue Officer, Dindigul District is suo motu impleaded as the 5^th respondent herein.

6. Considering the aforesaid developments, this writ petition is disposed of on the following terms:-

a) The District Revenue Officer is directed to consider the grievance of the 4^th respondent with regard to patta transfer order dated 06.08.2025. An interim order in this regard shall be issued after hearing the parties concerned within three weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order;

b) The interim stay granted by this court shall also continue to operate for the said three weeks. Thereafter, the District Revenue Officer may decide whether to extend such interim stay uninfluenced by the earlier order of this Court in this regard; and c) The District Revenue Officer is directed to dispose of the revision petition within three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order after providing a reasonable opportunity to the petitioners and the 4^th respondent herein. This writ petition is disposed of on these terms. No costs. Consequently, connected writ miscellaneous petitions are also closed.