IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 18-03-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI S.A.RAJ @ Anthoniraj, S/o.Savariyar, Packiyanathapuram Village, Thirumazhapadi, Ariyalur Taluk and District.

..Petitioner(s)

Vs The Tahsildar Ariyalur, Ariyalur District. ..Respondent(s)

Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondent to register the petitioner as a cultivating tenant under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Cultivating Tenants Protection Act, 1955 in respect of the agricultural land comprised in Survey No.11/1 measuring an extent of Acre 2.88 cents, situated at Thirumazhapadi Village, Ariyalur Taluk and district by considering the petitioner’s representations dated 11.02.2026 and 23.02.2026 within a time to be fixed by this Court For Petitioner(s): Mr.V.Raja For Respondent(s): Mr.C.Jayaprakash Government Advocate

ORDER

The present Writ Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondent to register the petitioner as a “Cultivating Tenant” under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Cultivating Tenants Protection Act, 1955 in respect of the agricultural land comprised in Survey No.11/1, measuring an extent of Acre 2.88 cents, situated at Thirumazhapadi Village, Ariyalur Taluk and District by considering his representations dated 11.02.2026 and

23.02.2026, within a time frame as fixed by this Court.

2. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side. With the consent of both sides, the present Writ Petition is taken up for hearing at the admission stage itself.

3. It is the case of the petitioner that the subject property is an agricultural land comprised in Survey No.11/1, measuring to an extent of Acre 2.88 cents, situated at Thirumazhapadi Village, Ariyalur District and the said land was originally assigned as a service inam to the temple service holder. Subsequently, upon re-assignment proceedings, the said land was allotted to the petitioner in the year 2007 by the temple for cultivation as a ‘cultivating agent’. Hence right from the year 2007, the petitioner has been in peaceful possession and enjoyment of the said agricultural land and cultivating the land during the agricultural seasons. The petitioner had also paid a lease advance of Rs.60,000/- [Rupees Sixty Thousand only] and thereafter, regularly paying the lease rent at the rate of Rs.30,000/- [Rupees Thirty Thousand only] per year to the temple authorities without any default of arrears. While so, the temple authorities are now attempting to dispossess the petitioner from the said land without following the due process of law and therefore, the petitioner made representations dated 11.02.2026 and 23.02.2026, seeking registration of his name as a ‘cultivating tenant’, however, the respondent neither conducted any enquiry nor passed any order and hence, the present Writ Petition.

4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is the cultivating tenant and has been in lawful possession from the year 2007 onwards and regularly paying the lease rent and hence, the petitioner has a right to protect him under the Tenancy right. He further submitted that the respondents have failed to consider the petitioner’s representations dated 11.02.2026 and 23.02.2026 seeking registration of his name as a ‘cultivating tenant’ and hence, the petitioner has come up with the present Petition to issue a direction to the respondent to grant him the relief sought for in this Writ Petition.

5. Per contra, the learned Government Advocate appearing on behalf of the respondent submitted that the petitioner has not produced any proceedings or documents issued by the respondent to substantiate his stand that the land was assigned to him as ‘Service Inam’. He further submitted that the petitioner has only produced the receipt of the Executive Officer of the temple and Adangal given by the Village Administrative Officer for the subject land, which were not accept