Malaichamy v. The District Collector
Case brief
What is this about?
Representative suit — Order I Rule 8 CPC — leave/permission to sue in representative capacity — objections by co-villagers — absence of unanimity and identity of interest — commonality of interest requirement — rival claims within same village — injunction suit — Article 227 of the Constitution of India — revisional interference — illegality, perversity or jurisdictional error — Allinagaram-Vellakarai Colony — Sivagangai District — Thiruppuvanam — Civil Revision Petition dismissed, no costs; connected CMP(MD) No.335 of 2026 closed. Case: CRP(MD). No.62 of 2026, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, decided 19.01.2026 by N. Senthilkumar J. Precedents distinguished: The Chairman, Tamil Nadu Housing Board v. T.N.Ganapathy (1990) AIR (SC) 642; Meeran Maraikayar v. Abdul Kathar and others, CRP(MD) No.385 of 2019.
What did the court decide?
The very fact that some village residents objected to the claim made by persons like the petitioners clearly indicates absence of unanimity or identity of interest among the persons sought to be represented; where there are rival claims and objections from within the same village, it cannot be presumed that all such persons have the same interest as contemplated under Order I Rule 8 CPC.