M.Panchavarnam v. The District Collector,

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 18.08.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.DILIP KUMAR W.P(MD)No.23873 and 23874 of 2026 and WMP (MD) Nos.17741 and 17738 of 2026 M.Panchavarnam ... Petitioner (in WP(MD) No.23873/2026) M.Palanichamy ... Petitioner (in WP(MD) No.23874/2026) vs.

¶1The District Collector, Office of the Collector, Sivagangai District.

¶2The Revenue Divisional Officer, Office of the Revenue Divisional Officer, Sivagangai District.

¶3The Tahsildar, Office of the Tahsildar, Thiruppathur Taluk, Sivagangai District.

¶4S.Nagarajan

... Respondents (in both WPs) COMMON PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the impugned order passed by the 1st respondent in his proceedings Na.Ka. E4/67689/2023 dated 08.06.2026 and to quash the same and consequentially directing the respondents 1 to 3 to issue revenue Patta in the name of the petitioner for 3 cents situated in Sivagangai District, Thiruppathur Taluk, Salaipatti village survey No Subdivided as 112/1B, 112/1C to an extent of

0.01.20 hectares (3 cents) within a time frame. For Petitioners : Ms. P.Jessi Jeeva Priya (in both WPs) For Respondents : Mr.M.Mahaboob Athiff (R1 to R3) Special Government Pleader (in both WPs) COMMON ORDER (Order of the Court was made by M.DHANDAPANI, J.) These Writ Petitions have been filed for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the impugned order passed by the 1st respondent in his proceedings Na.Ka. E4/67689/2023 dated

08.06.2026 and to quash the same and consequentially directing the respondents 1 to 3 to issue revenue Patta in the name of the petitioner for 3 cents situated in Sivagangai District, Thiruppathur Taluk, Salaipatti village survey No Subdivided as 112/1B, 112/1C to an extent of 0.01.20 hectares (3 cents) within a time frame.

¶2By consent of both parties, the Writ Petition is taken up for final disposal at the stage of admission itself. Since no adverse order is going to be passed, notice to the fourth respondent is dispensed with.

¶3The petitioners are in occupation of Survey No.112/1, measuring

0.31.5 hectares, which is classified as "Government Kalam Poramboke". The petitioners submitted an application seeking assignment of the said land in their favour. The said application came to be rejected by the District Collector, by order dated 08.06.2026, on the ground that the land under the occupation of the petitioners is not assignable. Aggrieved by the said order, the present Writ Petitions have been filed.

¶4The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners would submit that the petitioners have been in continuous occupation of the subject land and that their request for assignment has not been properly considered. Hence, the impugned order is liable to be set aside.

¶5Per contra, learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents 1 to 3 would submit that the land in question is Government Kalam land which is not eligible for assignment under the applicable Government norms. It is further submitted that an effective alternative remedy of appeal is available to the petitioner before the Commissioner of Land Administration.

¶6We have considered the submissions made on either side and perused the materials available on record.

7.Admittedly, the impugned orders have been passed by the District Collector rejecting the petitioners' request for assignment of the subject land. It is also not in dispute that the petitioners have an alternative statutory remedy of appeal before the competent authority, namely, the Commissioner of Land Administration. In view of the availability of an efficacious alternative remedy, this Court is not inclined to entertain the present writ petitions at this stage. The petitioners are therefore at liberty to approach the competent appellate authority by way of an appeal, challenging the common order dated 08.06.2026.

¶8If such an appeal is filed within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, the same shall be considered by the competent authority on its own merits and in accordance with law and pass appropriate orders within a period of fourt weeks thereafter. It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the petitioners' claim for assignment.

¶9Accordingly, these writ petitions stand disposed of. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. [M.D.I.,J.] & [N.D.K.,J.]

18.08.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes PKN To

¶1The District Collector, Office of the Collector, Sivagangai District.

¶2The Revenue Divisional Officer, Office of the Revenue Divisional Officer, Sivagangai District.

¶3The Tahsildar, Office of the Tahsildar, Thiruppathur Taluk, Sivagangai District. M.DHANDAPANI

, J.

and

N.DILIP KUMAR, J. PKN

18.08.2026