BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED :08.01.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.SURENDER P.Samraj ... Petitioner(s)

Vs.

1. The District Collector, Dindigul, Dindigul District.

2. The District Forest Officer, Dindigul, Dindigul District.

3. The Tahsildar, Dindigul East Taluk, Dindigul District.

4. The Special Tahshildar, Forest Land Tribunal, Forest Land Tribunal, Dindigul District. ... Respondent(s)

PRAYER : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the Respondent No. 1 to 3 herein to issue Patta in respect of the Petitioners holdings of land in Survey No. 18/2 situated at Sirumalai Village, Dindigul East Taluk, Dindigul District on the basis of the order passed by the 4th Respondent in Na.Ka. No. 57/2021, dated 18.10.2022 by considering his representation dated 20.06.2023.

For Petitioner : Mr.J. Lawrance For Respondents :Mr.N.Ramesh Arumugam Government Advocate for R1 to R4

O R D E R

This writ petition has been filed seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 3 to issue patta in respect of the petitioner's holdings of land in Survey No. 18/2 situated at Sirumalai Village, Dindigul East Taluk, Dindigul District on the basis of the order passed by the fourth respondent in Na.Ka. No. 57/2021, dated

18.10.2022, by considering his representation dated 20.06.2023.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the parties.

3. The petitioner submitted a representation dated 20.06.2023 to the respondents seeking issuance of patta in respect of the properties referred to above. However, no action has been taken on the said representation. Hence, the present writ petition has been filed.

4. Learned Additional Government Pleader, appearing on behalf of respondents 1 to 4, submits that the land in question is forest land and that any claims in respect thereof were settled by the Forest Settlement Officer in accordance with the Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1882, way back in the year 1978. The proclamation in respect of the forest land was published in the Gazette dated 08.04.1978 and 15.05.1978. Therefore, if there was any grievance with regard to the proclamation, the same ought to have been raised before the Forest Settlement Officer within a period of three months from the date of publication. However, since a representation has been made by the petitioner, the same will be considered and disposed of in accordance with law.

5. In view of the above submissions, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the second respondent/ District Forest Officer to consider the petitioner’s representation dated 20.06.2023 on merits and in accordance with law and pass appropriate orders within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs.

(K.SURENDER, J)

08.01.2026 NCC :Yes/No Internet :Yes/No Index :Yes/No PKN To

1. The District Collector, Dindigul, Dindigul District.

2. The District Forest Officer, Dindigul, Dindigul District.

3. The Tahsildar, Dindigul East Taluk, Dindigul District.

4. The Special Tahshildar, Forest Land Tribunal, Forest Land Tribunal, Dindigul District.

K.SURENDER, J.

PKN

08.01.2026