Court directed an inquiry into compensation distribution following land acquisition, emphasizing the need for a fair hearing.

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.SURENDER and W.M.P.(MD)No.4517 of 2026 K.Venkatachalam ... Petitioner -vs-

1.The District Collector, Pudukkottai District, Pudukkottai.

2.The Special District Revenue Officer (Land Acquisition), Cauvery - Vaigai - Gundar Link Project, Pudukkottai.

3.The Special Tahsildar (Land Acquisition), Cauvery Vaigai - Gundar Link Project, Unit III, Pudukkottai.

4.The Tahsildhar, Pudukkottai, Pudukkottai District.

5.K.Munisamy ... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, forbearing the respondents 1 to 4 from disbursing the compensation amounts payable towards acquisition of properties in Survey Nos. 176/3, 176/5, 178/1A2, 290/9, 290/11, 290/12, 293/3, 293/4, 294/3, 294/9, 294/10, 294/11A, 294/12A, 298/3, 299/2, 299/7, 299/8A, 299/9A and 206/3 of Nathampannai Village, Pudukkottai Taluk, Pudukkottai District, in favour of the fifth respondent herein, considering the representation of petitioner dated

20.02.2026.

For Petitioner : Mrs.AL.Gandhimathi Senior Counsel for Mr.C.Mahadevan For R1 to R4 : Mr.D.Sadiq Raja Additional Government Pleader

ORDER

This Writ Petition has been filed seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, forbearing the respondents 1 to 4 from disbursing the compensation amounts payable towards acquisition of properties in Survey Nos.176/3, 176/5, 178/1A2, 290/9, 290/11, 290/12, 293/3, 293/4, 294/3, 294/9, 294/10, 294/11A, 294/12A, 298/3, 299/2, 299/7, 299/8A, 299/9A and 206/3 of Nathampannai Village, Pudukkottai Taluk, Pudukkottai District, in favour of the fifth respondent herein, by considering the representation of petitioner dated 20.02.2026.

2. By consent, the Writ Petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.

3. Since no adverse orders are going to be passed against the fifth respondent, notice to the fifth respondent is hereby dispensed with.

4. The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner’s father purchased the subject properties in the name of the fifth respondent, who is the eldest brother of the petitioner, out of the income derived from the ancestral properties. The property in S.No.206/3 was purchased in the name of the petitioner’s mother. Though the properties stand in the individual names, they have all along been in the joint possession and cultivation of all the joint family members, including the petitioner herein. The joint family properties have not been divided among the sharers by metes and bounds. While so, the respondents 1 to 3 initiated acquisition proceedings in the year 2023 for the Cauvery–Vaigai–Gundar Rivers Link Project, thereby acquiring the properties, and compensation was also determined. However, the fifth respondent, taking advantage of the revenue mutations standing in his name in respect of the joint family properties, made several attempts to receive the entire compensation amount from the respondents 1 to 4. In this regard, the petitioner submitted a representation dated 20.02.2026. Thereafter, no further action has been taken.

Hence, the present Writ Petition.

5. The learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents 1 to 4 would submit that the petitioner’s representation will be considered on merits and appropriate orders will be passed in accordance with law, after conducting an enquiry, within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.

6. Recording the above submission, and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the third respondent to conduct an enquiry on the petitioner's representation 20.02.2026, and pass appropriate orders on merits and in accordance with law af