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WP No. 1990 of 2025

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 29-01-2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE

WP No. 1990 of 2025

AND WMP NO. 2460 OF 2025

V.Govindan,

S/o.Varadan,

Residing At No 12/97, Periya Mathur,

Pelakkadu Post Maramangalam,

Salem District.

Petitioner(s)

Vs

1.The State Of Tamil Nadu,

Rep, by the Secretary to Government,

Environment And Forest Department,

Fort St George, Chennai 600 009.

2.The District Collector,

Salem District, Salem.

3.The Forest Officer,

Yercaud Salem.

4.The District Forest Officer,

Gandhi Road, Salem 636 007.

5.The District Revenue Officer,

Cum District Level Committee,

Salem Collectorate Office, Salem.

6.The Special Tahsildar, Adi Dravidar

Welfare,

Salem, Salem District.

7.The Tahsildar,

Yercaud, Salem District.

Respondent(s)

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WP No. 1990 of 2025

PRAYER:-Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India,

praying for an issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the 7^th respondent to

implement the order passed by the 6^th respondent made in Na.Ka. No. 295 /

2023 / A dated 04.12.2023 and based on the petitioner application dated

10.01.2023 and issue patta to the petitioner comprising in survey No 251 and

Manjal Vadi R.F. Survey No 1887, which is situated at Manjal Vadi R.F. Survey

No. 1887 yercaud, Salem district of Maramanagalam panchayat, Periya Mathur

Village, Yercaud Taluk, Salem District and within the time frame as fixed by

this Court.

For Petitioner(s): Mr.D.Babu Varadharajan

For Respondent(s): Mr.S.J.Mohamed Sathik

Standing Counsel

For R1, R3 & R4

Mr.R.P.Murugan Raja

Government Advocate

For R2, R5 to R7

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed challenging the impugned order dated

04.12.2023 passed by the 6^th respondent rejecting the petitioner’s request for

grant of patta in favour of the petitioner for the subject property more fully

described in the prayer to this writ petition on the ground that the petitioner has

not satisfied the eligibility criteria for the grant of patta and has also not

submitted the residential proof for residing in the subject property.

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WP No. 1990 of 2025

2.The counter affidavit has been filed by the respondents 4 and 6 on

behalf of all the respondents. As seen from the same, the petitioner has not

satisfied the eligibility criteria for issuance of patta for the subject property. The

6^th respondent has stated in the counter that the property for which patta is

sought for by the petitioner falls in the reserve forest area. The 4^th respondent

has also stated that the petitioner has not satisfied the eligibility criteria for

issuance of patta in his name.

3.However, the learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the

petitioner has all the documentary evidence to prove that he is entitled for the

issuance of patta. The petitioner had also submitted an application before the

respondents, which disclosed that the petitioner is residing in the place for

which the patta is sought for.

4.This Court is not expressing any opinion on the merits of the said

application.

5.Since the petitioner categorically contends before this Court that he is in

possession of the supporting documents to prove that he is entitled for patta as

prayed for in this writ petition, this Court in the interest of justice deems it fit to

remand the matter back to the 6^th respondent for fresh consideration, after

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WP No. 1990 of 2025

affording one personal hearing to the petitioner to enable the petitioner to file

the supporting documents.

6.For the foregoing reasons, the impugned order dated 04.12.2023 is

hereby quashed and the matter is remanded back to the 6^th respondent for fresh

consideration of the petitioner’s application seeking for issuance of patta on

merits and in accordance with law, within the time frame to be fixed by this

Court. The 6^th respondent shall pass final orders on