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M.Selladurai, Vs the Sub Collector — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

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Madras HC
2025
M.Selladurai, Vs the Sub CollectorM.Selladurai, v. the Sub Collector

Allowed¶28

M.Selladurai, v. the Sub Collector

Community certificate – Re-conversion to Hinduism

Madras HC19 Dec 2025WP(MD)/18173/2018

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

W.P(MD) No.18173 of 2018, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, decided 19.12.2025 (G.R.Swaminathan J., author; R.Kalaimathi J. on bench). Petitioner M.Selladurai sought certiorarified mandamus under Article 226 to quash the Tahsildar, Kumbakonam's order dated 08.06.2018 rejecting his Hindu Parayan community certificate claim after re-conversion from Christianity (Arya Samaj, Thanjavur; marriage into Hindu Vellalar Community). Court found no proper enquiry was held, set aside the order, and remitted for fresh enquiry within three months. Allowed, no costs. Keywords: community certificate; re-conversion; Hindu Paraiyar/Parayan; enquiry by Tahsildar; certiorarified mandamus.

What did the court decide?

Impugned order of the Tahsildar, Kumbakonam set aside; matter remitted to the second respondent to conduct enquiry afresh and pass appropriate order on the petitioner's community certificate application within three months; Writ Petition allowed with no costs.

Why is it important?

No proper enquiry was conducted by the Tahsildar, Kumbakonam before rejecting the petitioner's request. ¶22

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Impugned order of the Tahsildar, Kumbakonam set aside; matter remitted to the second respondent to conduct enquiry afresh and pass appropriate order on the petitioner's community certificate application within three months; Writ Petition allowed with no costs.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner, who re-converted to Hinduism after his forefathers had converted to Christianity, is entitled to be issued a community certificate that he belongs to Hindu Parayan Community. +1 more

Ratio / Principle

No proper enquiry was conducted by the Tahsildar, Kumbakonam before rejecting the petitioner's request.

Key takeaways

Without conducting proper enquiry, the Tahsildar, Kumbakonam could not have rejected the petitioner's request.ratio¶27
The impugned order is set aside and the matter is remitted to the file of the second respondent to conduct enquiry afresh and pass appropriate order on the petitioner's application.ratio¶28
The fresh enquiry and appropriate order shall be completed within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Community certificate — Re-conversion to Hinduism — Petitioner, whose forefathers were Hindu Paraiyars converted to Christianity, re-converted to Hinduism on 20.06.2010 (conversion overseen by Arya Samaj, Thanjavur), married a member of Hindu Vellalar Community and asserts he follows the Hindu way of life — Tahsildar, Kumbakonam rejected his application for a Hindu Parayan community certificate (O.Mu.4380-2018 A7 dated 08.06.2018) without conducting any proper enquiry — Held, without proper enquiry the rejection could not stand; impugned order set aside and matter remitted to the Tahsildar for fresh enquiry and appropriate order within three months — Writ Petition allowed. No costs.

A

W.P(MD) No.18173 of 2018

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

Date : 19.12.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN AND THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE R.KALAIMATHI

W.P(MD) No.18173 of 2018

M.Selladurai ... Petitioner

Vs.

1.The Sub Collector, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District.

2.The Tahsildar, Taluk Office, Kumbakonam Taluk, Thanjavur District. ... Respondents

PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records relating to the order passed by the second respondent in O.Mu.4380-2018 A7 dated 08.06.2018, quash the same and consequently, direct the second respondent to issue the community certificate to the petitioner that he belongs to Hindu Parayan Community.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

W.P(MD) No.18173 of 2018

For Petitioner : Mr.S.Arunachalam

For Respondents : Mr.A.Baskaran Additional Government Pleader

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.)

Heard both sides.

The writ petitioner claimed that his forefathers belonged to

Hindu Paraiyar Community and that they converted to Christianity. The petitioner re-converted to Hinduism on 20.06.2010. He thereafter applied for community certificate. The Tahsildar, Kumbakonam negatived the petitioner's request. Challenging the same, this writ petition came to be filed.

It is seen that no proper enquiry was conducted by the Tahsildar,

Kumbakonam before rejecting the petitioner's request. The petitioner filed a typed set of papers and it is seen therefrom that Arya Samaj, Thanjavur oversaw the conversion of the writ petitioner from Christianity

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W.P(MD) No.18173 of 2018

to Hinduism. Subsequently, the petitioner got married to a person who belongs to Hindu Vellalar Community. Two children were born through the wedlock and they have been named as S.R.Sri Natchiya and S.R.Eniyan Chokkanathar. The petitioner asserts that he follows the Hindu way of life. These are matters for enquiry. Without conducting proper enquiry, the Tahsildar, Kumbakonam could not have rejected the petitioner's request.

4. In this view of the matter, the impugned order is set aside. The matter is remitted to the file of the second respondent to conduct enquiry afresh and pass appropriate order on the petitioner's application. This exercise shall be completed within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The Writ Petition is allowed accordingly. No costs.

(G.R.S., J.) (R.K.M., J.) 19.12.2025

Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No NCC : Yes / No rmi

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W.P(MD) No.18173 of 2018

To

1.The Sub Collector, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District.

2.The Tahsildar, Taluk Office, Kumbakonam Taluk, Thanjavur District.

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W.P(MD) No.18173 of 2018

G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J. AND R.KALAIMATHI, J.

rmi

W.P(MD) No.18173 of 2018

19.12.2025

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Issues for consideration

2 issues framed by the court

AI extract

1.
Whether the petitioner, who re-converted to Hinduism after his forefathers had converted to Christianity, is entitled to be issued a community certificate that he belongs to Hindu Parayan Community.¶11
2.
Whether the Tahsildar, Kumbakonam could validly reject the petitioner's request for a community certificate without conducting a proper enquiry.¶27
The court held
No proper enquiry was conducted by the Tahsildar, Kumbakonam before rejecting the petitioner's request.ratio¶22

Statutes considered

1 provisions across 1 enactments

AI extract

Constitution of IndiaArticle 226¶11

Procedural history

How this case reached the court

AI extract

Order under challenge
Order of the second respondent (Tahsildar, Kumbakonam) in O.Mu.4380-2018 A7 dated 08.06.2018 rejecting/negativing the petitioner's request for a community certificate that he belongs to Hindu Parayan Community.¶11
Tahsildar, Kumbakonam (second respondent) · 08.06.2018
Prior proceeding
Petitioner claimed his forefathers belonged to Hindu Paraiyar Community and converted to Christianity; he re-converted to Hinduism on 20.06.2010 and thereafter applied for a community certificate.¶21
Prior proceeding
Tahsildar, Kumbakonam negatived the petitioner's request; challenging the same, the writ petition was filed.¶21
Prior proceeding
Typed set of papers filed by petitioner showed Arya Samaj, Thanjavur oversaw his conversion from Christianity to Hinduism.¶23
Prior proceeding
After re-conversion, the petitioner married a person belonging to Hindu Vellalar Community.¶27
Prior proceeding
Two children were born of the marriage, named S.R.Sri Natchiya and S.R.Eniyan Chokkanathar; petitioner asserts he follows the Hindu way of life.¶27

Parties & counsel

AI extract

petitioner
M.Selladurai¶7
S.Arunachalam
respondent
The Sub Collector, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District¶9
A.Baskaran
respondent
The Tahsildar, Taluk Office, Kumbakonam Taluk, Thanjavur District¶10
A.Baskaran

Coram

AI extract

G.R.SWAMINATHANauthor¶18
R.KALAIMATHImember¶40

Case details

As recorded by the court registry

Court: Madras HC
Decided on: 19 Dec 2025 · December
Registered: 20 Aug 2018
Case no.: WP(MD)/18173/2018
CNR: HCMD011000642018
Topic: Writ and Judicial Review
Bench: G.r.swaminathan R. Kalaimathi
Disposal: ALLOWED
Case type: W.P(MD)

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Cite this judgement

M.Selladurai, v. the Sub Collector, WP(MD)/18173/2018 (MAD), decided on 19 December 2025.

The Madras High Court publishes no neutral citation for this judgement — cite it by case number and date of decision.

Statutes1

Constitution of IndiaArticle 226

View all statutes

Procedural history6

Order of the second respondent (Tahsildar, Kumbakonam) in O.Mu.4380-2018 A7 dated 08.06.2018 rejecting/negativing the petitioner's request for a community certificate that he belongs to Hindu Parayan Community.Tahsildar, Kumbakonam (second respondent) · 08.06.2018
Petitioner claimed his forefathers belonged to Hindu Paraiyar Community and converted to Christianity; he re-converted to Hinduism on 20.06.2010 and thereafter applied for a community certificate.
Tahsildar, Kumbakonam negatived the petitioner's request; challenging the same, the writ petition was filed.

View full history

Bench / Coram

G.R.SWAMINATHAN and R.KALAIMATHI

Parties & counsel

ratio