Petitioner sought writ restraining government authorities from allowing a society to use his alleged property for an exhibition as title was disputed. The court held that title disputes cannot be adjudicated in a writ petition and dismissed the matter.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
W.P.(MD)No.17474 of 2024
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED : 19.08.2024
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR
W.P.(MD)No.17474 of 2024 and W.M.P.(MD)No.15018 of 2024
Jegatheesan
... Petitioner
Vs.
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6.Mr.Dencing, LOS Friends, The President, St.Panimaya Matha Church, Thoothukudi.
.... Respondents
PRAYER: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, restraining the respondent Nos.1 to 4 from interfering into the petitioner's right of property which is situated in S.No.1114/1A, Block – 7, T.S.Ward 25, Thoothukudi Taluk and District so as to favour the 5th and 6th respondents for enabling them to conduct the exhibition in the said property in connection with the festival to be taken place at St.Panimaya Matha Church, Thoothukudi scheduled to be between 26.07.2024 and 18.08.2024.
For Petitioner : Mr.R.Anand For Respondents : Mr.A.Kannan, Addl. Govt. Pleader for R1, R2 & R4 Mr.M.F.Rooshimaas for Issac Chambers for R5 Mr.A.Selvin for R6
O R D E R
This Writ Petition has been filed for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, restraining the respondent Nos.1 to 4 from interfering into the petitioner's right of property which is situated in S.No.1114/1A, Block – 7, T.S.Ward 25, Thoothukudi
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Taluk and District so as to favour the 5th and 6th respondents for enabling them to conduct the exhibition in the said property in connection with the festival to be taken place at St.Panimaya Matha Church, Thoothukudi scheduled to be between 26.07.2024 and 18.08.2024.
2. It is the case of the Writ Petitioner that the subject property was originally owned by Bombay Cotton Private Limited Company and the same was gifted to the petitioner's grandfather and he has executed a Will in favour of his first daughter, who is the mother of the petitioner. Hence, the petitioner has become owner of the property. While that being so, due to family circumstances, the petitioner shifted to other place from his native. Taking advantage of the same, at the time of surveying exercise on a supplementary mode, the name of the 5th respondent, whose property is situated adjoining to the petitioner's property, has been included in the revenue records. Based on the same, the 5th respondent claimed right in the subject property. Hence, the petitioner filed a suit in O.S.No. 19 of 1997 before the learned Principal District Munsif, Thoothukudi against the
5th respondent for bare injunction, which was dismissed. Against which, the petitioner filed A.S.No.6 of 2002 on the file of Additional District Judge cum Chief Judicial Magistrate, Thoothukudi and the same was also dismissed. As
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against the same, the petitioner filed S.A.(MD)No.1712 of 2003 before this Court and this Court vide judgment dated 21.06.2023, allowed the appeal and decreed the suit. However, the 5th respondent, even after knowing fully well about the said decision, is proposed to let out the subject property to the 6th respondent for conducting exhibition. In this regard, the petitioner also made a representation to the respondents 1 to 4. Since the same was not considered, the petitioner has filed this Writ Petition.
3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned counsel appearing for the respective respondents and perused the materials available on record.
4. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is of the view that the petitioner is trying to establish his right over the immovable property. The petitioner claims to be the owner of the property, restraining the 5th respondent from letting out the subject property to the 6th respondent for conducting exhibition. However, the title of the petitioner is disputed by the 5th respondent. This issue cannot be gone into in this Writ Petition and therefore, the prayer sought for by the petitioner cannot be granted by this Court.
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5 . Accordingly, this Writ Petition is dismissed. If at all any grievance, it
is for the petitioner to work out his remedy in the manner known to law. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. There shall be no order as to costs.
19.08.2024
NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes/No vsm
To
1.The Collector, Thoothukudi District. 2.The Sub-Collector, Thoothukudi.
3.The Commissioner, Thoothukudi City Municipal Corporation, Thoothukudi District.
4.The Tahsildar, Thoothukudi Taluk, Thoothukudi District.
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W.P.(MD)No.17474 of 2024
N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.
vsm
W.P.(MD)No.17474 of 2024
19.08.2024
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2 issues framed by the court
Whether a Writ Court can interfere in a dispute regarding the title to immovable property.
Whether the prayer to restrain government respondents from allowing property usage in favour of another party can be granted when title is disputed.
1 provisions across 1 enactments
Jegatheesan
Collector, Thoothukudi District
Sub-Collector, Thoothukudi
Commissioner, Thoothukudi City Municipal Corporation
Tahsildar, Thoothukudi Taluk
Superior Saveriana Society of St. Francis
N.SATHISH KUMAR
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
