K.Sivakumar v. the District Collector
Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India – Mandamus for time-bound disposal of statutory appeal – Tamil Nadu Land Encroachment Act, 1905, Sections 10 and 10-B
Case brief
What is this about?
Madras High Court, W.P. No.4685 of 2025, decided 13.02.2025 (M. Sundar and K. Govindarajan Thilakavadi, JJ.) — writ of mandamus seeking time-bound disposal of statutory appeal dated 28.09.2024 under Section 10 of the Tamil Nadu Land Encroachment Act, 1905 (Tamil Nadu Act III of 1905) before the District Collector, Kancheepuram as Appellate Authority, regarding 6,809 sq. meter in S.No.9/1, Orakkattupettai Village, Uthiramerur Taluk, Kancheepuram District; appeal filed with delay, condonation of delay (COD) application pending; interim order remedy under Section 10-B of the 1905 Act pointed out for pain of dispossession; timeline mandamus refused as disposal depends on volume of official business and is not the Collector's sole function; writ petition dismissed at Admission Board stage along with W.M.P. No.5190 of 2025; no costs. Counsel: Mr. D. Raja for petitioner.
What did the court decide?
This Court declined to accede to the timeline mandamus plea because disposal of the statutory appeal will depend on the volume of official business of R1 and is not the sole function of R1.