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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED: 04.02.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE G. JAYACHANDRAN

AND

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.K. RAMAKRISHNAN

W.P.(MD)No.13192 of 2024

and

W.M.P.(MD)No.11675 & 11677 of 2024

Sivakumar ... Petitioner

Vs.

1.The District Collector,

Tenkasi District, Tenkasi.

2.The Revenue Divisional Officer,

Revenue Divisional Office,

Tenkasi, Tenkasi District.

3.The Tahsildar,

Tenkasi Taluk,

Tenkasi District.

4.The Adi Dravidar Welfare Officer,

Adi Dravidar Welfare Office,

Tenkasi, Tenkasi District. ... Respondents

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

India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records

pertaining to the impugned rejection order dated 07.05.2024 passed by

the second respondent and quash the same as illegal and consequently,

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direct the second respondent to issue Community Certificate as Hindu

Kattunayakkan for the petitioner's daughter namely, S.Santhanamari.

For Petitioner : Mr.A.Sankararamasubramanian

For Respondents : Mr.S.P.Maharajan (R1 to R4)

Special Government Pleader

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by DR.G.JAYACHANDRAN, J.)

The petitioner herein claiming that he hails from Kattunayakan

community and therefore, he is entitled for Scheduled Tribe Community

Certificate, has applied for the same. But, by virtue of the impugned

order, the same had been rejected. Hence, the petitioner is before this

Court seeking certiorarified mandamus to quash the order passed by the

Revenue Divisional Officer on 07.05.2024 and direct him to issue

community certificate to the petitioner as he belongs to 'Hindu

Kattunayakan community'.

2.On examination of the impugned order, we find that the

petitioner has not produced any proof for his community by enclosing

community issued by the competent authority for his father, mother or

any other relative.

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3.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would

submit that he enclosed the community certificate of his blood brother.

Further, the same was not considered.

4.As per the prevailing Rules, the application seeking

community Certificate for the Kattunayakan community to be verified by

higher officers in the Rank of Revenue Divisional Officer and the

certificate to be given only by them and not any persons below the rank

of Revenue Divisional Officer.

5.In this case, the petitioner claims that he had enclosed the

community certificate of his brother and the same was not considered.

6.Taking into consideration the said submission, we are of the

view that the impugned order of the second respondent dated 02.05.2024

has to be set aside and fresh opportunity must be given to the petitioner

herein to produce all the relevant documents to substantiate his claim and

get appropriate certificate.

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7.For the above said purpose, we allow the writ petition and

quash the order dated 07.05.2024 passed by the second respondent. The

petitioner is permitted to submit a fresh application with all relevant

documents for issuance of community certificate forthwith. The second

respondent is directed to scrutinize the application and pass orders within

a period of two months from the date of receipt of the application.

Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. There shall

be no order as to costs.

[G.J., J.] & [K.K.R.K., J.]

04.02.2026

Index :Yes/No

Internet :Yes

ta

To

1.The District Collector,

Tenkasi District, Tenkasi.

2.The Revenue Divisional Officer,

Revenue Divisional Office,

Tenkasi, Tenkasi District.

3.The Tahsildar,

Tenkasi Taluk,

Tenkasi District.

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4.The Adi Dravidar Welfare Officer,

Adi Dravidar Welfare Office,

Tenkasi, Tenkasi District.

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DR

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