BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 06.04.2026 CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE S.SRIMATHY S.Rukmani ... Petitioner Vs

1. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Government of Tamil Nadu, Revenue Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai.

2. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Government of Tamil Nadu, Forest and Wildlife Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai.

3. The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Virudhunagar District.

4. The Tahsildar, Office of the Tahsildar, Rajapalayam Taluk, Virudhunagar District.

5. The Deputy Director, Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve, Srivilliputhur, 6. The Forest Range Officer, Rajapalayam Range, Virudhunagar District. ... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondent Nos. 3 and 4 to issue patta in respect of 1.5 Acres land comprised in Survey No. 31 situated at Tiruchalur village, Rajapalayam Taluk in Virudhunagar District.

For Petitioner : Mr.S.Malaikani For Respondents : Mr.T.Amjad Khan Government Advocate

ORDER

The present Writ Petition has been filed for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondent Nos. 3 and 4 to issue patta in respect of 1.5 Acres land comprised in Survey No.31 situated at Tiruchalur village, Rajapalayam

2. The learned Government Advocate, on instructions, submitted that the said land is forest land. Based on the order passed by the Hon’ble Division Bench in W.P.(MD)No.19923 of 2023 dated 17.08.2023, the issue regarding the forest land has already been settled. Certain persons, namely, B. Muthumani and nine others, had sought patta in respect of the same Survey No.31. The Hon’ble Division Bench considered the matter and recorded the statement of the Special Government Pleader that the land had been declared as forest land. Consequently, the Division Bench rejected the claim of the individuals and declined to grant patta.

3. The learned Government Pleader also produced the Government Gazette published in the Virudhunagar District Gazette dated 20.07.2023, declaring the land in Survey No.31 and other survey numbers as “Reserved Land”. Therefore, when the Government notification has been issued, the petitioner cannot claim patta in respect of Survey No.31. The petitioner further contended that the adjacent landowner had been granted patta

4. On perusing the same, it is seen that the adjacent landowner was granted patta in Survey No.29, which has not been declared as forest land in the aforesaid notification. In fact, Survey No.29 is shown as the western boundary of the forest land. Therefore, the plea of the petitioner is rejected and patta cannot be granted to the petitioner.

5. With the above observations, this Writ Petition stands dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs.

06.04.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes jbr To:

1. The Additional Chief Secretay to Government, Government of Tamil Nadu, Revenue Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai.

2. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Government of Tamil Nadu, Forest and Wildlife Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai.

3. The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, 4. The Tahsildar,, Office of the Tahsildar, Rajapalayam

5. The Deputy Director, Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve, Srivilliputhur, 6. The Forest Range Officer, Rajapalayam Range, S.SRIMATHY , J .

jbr ORDER MADE IN DATED : 06.04.2026