T.Muthukumaran Vs the District Collector — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

T.Muthukumaran Vs the District Collector — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Disposed

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents should be directed (by writ of mandamus under Article 226) to consider the petitioner's representation dated 04.11.2023 and grant a No Objection Certificate to use the Thoppu Porombokku land in Survey No.25/7, Periyakattupalayam Village, Cuddalore, as a pathway by laying road, enabling access to the petitioner's property in Survey No.25/6, as recommended by the Tahsildar on 29.01.2024.

Court's answer

Since the District Collector had, by proceedings Na.Ka.Vi 10/2304349/2024 dated 16.10.2025, rejected the petitioner's request, the cause of action for the writ petition no longer existed, and the petition therefore could not be pursued for the relief prayed for.

Key takeaways

If the petitioner considers the District Collector's rejection order erroneous, he may work out his rights in a manner known to law; the Court declined to adjudicate the correctness of the Collector's order in this writ petition.obiter¶35

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (V. Lakshminarayanan, J.), W.P.No.38762 of 2025, decided 23.10.2025 — Writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution seeking a writ of mandamus directing eight Cuddalore revenue/planning officials to consider the petitioner T.Muthukumaran's representation dated 04.11.2023 and grant a No Objection Certificate to use Thoppu Porombokku land in Survey No.25/7, Madhalapattu Madhura, Periyakattupalayam Village, as a pathway by laying road, to access his property in Survey No.25/6, pursuant to the Tahsildar's favourable recommendation dated 29.01.2024. On 14.10.2025 the Government Pleader took notice; on the resumed date she produced the District Collector's proceedings Na.Ka.Vi 10/2304349/2024 dated 16.10.2025 rejecting the request. Holding that the cause of action had thereby ceased to exist, the Court recorded those proceedings and closed the writ petition with no order as to costs, observing that if the petitioner found the Collector's order erroneous he could work out his rights in a manner known to law. The Court did not itself adjudicate the validity of the rejection order.

W.P.No.38762 of 2025

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 23.10.2025

CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V. LAKSHMINARAYANAN

W.P.No.38762 of 2025

T.Muthukumaran

.. Petitioner

vs

The District Collector, Collector Office, Manjakuppam, Cuddalore District – 607 001.

The District Revenue Officer, Collector Office, Manjakuppam, Cuddalore District – 607 001.

The Revenue Divisional Officer, Rajambal Nagar, Allpettai, Manjakuppam, Cuddalore District – 607 001.

The Tahsildar, Cuddalore Taluk, Cuddalore District.

The Revenue Inspector Reddichavady Division, Cuddalore.

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W.P.No.38762 of 2025

The Village Administrative Officer, Madhalapattu, Cuddalore – 607 301.

The Assistant Director, District Town and Country Planning Office, No.34, Tamilmuthu Nagar, Kondur, Cuddalore – 607 006.

The Joint Director of Agriculture, Semandalam, Cuddalore – 607 001. .. Respondents

Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents herein to consider the petitioner's representation dated 04.11.2023 and pass appropriate orders consequently direct the respondents herein to grant the petitioner, No Objection Certificate to use the Thoppu Porombokku land comprised in Survey No.25/7, Cuddalore District Madhalapattu Madhura, Periyakattupalayam Village, as a pathway by laying road, thereby, enabling the petitioner to access his property in Survey No.25/6, Cuddalore District, Madhalapattu Madhura, Periyakattupalayam Village as recommended by the 4^th respondent herein vide communication dated 29.01.2024, within a time period stipulated by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.P.Dinesh Kumar

For Respondent : Mrs.C.Meera Arumugham Additional Government Pleader

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W.P.No.38762 of 2025

O R D E R

The petitioner has come forward with the writ petition stating that there is no access for the petitioner to his factory situated in S.No.25/7, Periyakattupalayam Village, Cuddalore Taluk and District. He pleaded that his request for access had been favourably recommended by the Tashildar on 29.01.2024, yet the District Collector has not taken a call on the same.

When the matter came up for admission on 14.10.2025, Mrs.C.Meera Arumugham, took notice for the respondents and reported that the Collector would pass appropriate orders on the representation made by the petitioner on 04.11.2023. In order to enable her to get instructions and to report, I adjourned the matter today.

When I took up the matter today, Mrs.C.Meera Arumugham, has produced a copy of the proceedings vide Na.Ka.Vi 10/2304349/2024 dated 16.10.2025, whereunder, the District Collector, has rejected the request of the petitioner. Hence, the cause of action for the writ petitioner no longer exists.

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W.P.No.38762 of 2025

Mr.P.Dinesh, states that the order passed by the District

Collector is erroneous. If that be so, it is up to him to work out his rights in a manner known to law. Recording the proceedings dated 16.10.2025,

this Writ Petition stands closed. There shall be no order as to costs.

23.10.2025

Index:Yes/No

Speaking order/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation:Yes/No

ms

To

The District Collector, Collector Office, Manjakuppam, Cuddalore District – 607 001.

The District Revenue Officer, Collector Office, Manjakuppam,Cuddalore District – 607 001.

The Revenue Divisional Officer, Rajambal Nagar, Allpettai, Manjakuppam,Cuddalore District – 607 001.

The Tahsildar, Cuddalore Taluk, Cuddalore District.

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W.P.No.38762 of 2025

The Revenue Inspector Reddichavady Division, Cuddalore.

The Village Administrative Officer, Madhalapattu, Cuddalore – 607 301.

The Assistant Director, District Town and Country Planning Office, No.34, Tamilmuthu Nagar, Kondur, Cuddalore – 607 006.

The Joint Director of Agriculture, Semandalam, Cuddalore – 607 001.

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W.P.No.38762 of 2025

V. LAKSHMINARAYANAN, J.

ms

W.P.No.38762 of 2025

23.10.2025

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