Dismissed¶78

V.Pandarinathan v. M.Raja

Madras HC23 Jun 2026WMP/22947/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Keywords: Meikkal Poramboke / Manthai-to-Natham reclassification; free Natham Patta; Chief Minister's Scheme; gauchar/grazing land protection; prior approval requirement for poramboke conversion; Mandaiveli lands; Thiruvarur — Mangudi Village — Survey Nos.159/56 and 159/57; writ miscellaneous petitions in disposed writ; relied-on Supreme Court case: Rameshbhai Virabhai Chaudhari v. State of Gujarat (C.A. No.5135 of 2021). Outcome: both WMPs dismissed; liberty to seek Patta elsewhere.

What did the court decide?

No substantive relief; petitions dismissed, with the clarification that the dismissal will not prevent the petitioners from seeking Patta elsewhere. ¶78

V.Pandarinathan Vs M.Raja — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No substantive relief; petitions dismissed, with the clarification that the dismissal will not prevent the petitioners from seeking Patta elsewhere.

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Issue for consideration

Whether prior approval should be accorded to Respondents 9 to 12 to reclassify the land in Survey No.159/56, No.36, Mangudi Village, Needamangalam Taluk, Tiruvarur District, from Government Poromboke Manthai to Natham and issue a free Natham Patta in favour of the petitioner V. Pandarinathan under the Chief Minister's Scheme. +1 more

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Ratio / Principle

The Court declined to entertain the petitions because, while it is endeavouring to preserve Meikkal Porambke and Manthai Veli lands from being converted, the present petitions sought directions to do exactly the contrary.

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Key takeaways

Both Writ Miscellaneous Petitions stand dismissed.ratio¶78
The Court clarified that the dismissal of these Miscellaneous Petitions will not stand in the way of the petitioners seeking Patta elsewhere.ratio¶78
The Court stated that its earlier order in the parent writ had been passed in tune with the directions of the Supreme Court to save Meikkal Poramboke from being converted, which underpins its refusal of these conversion-seeking petitions.ratio

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (Dr. G. Jayachandran and N. Mala, JJ.), order dated 23-06-2026: W.M.P.Nos.22947 and 23001 of 2026 filed in disposed W.P.No.19286 of 2021 dismissed. Petitioners V. Pandarinathan and Ravichandran sought prior approval for Respondents 9 to 12 to reclassify Meikkal Poramboke 'Manthai' land in Survey Nos.159/56 and 159/57, No.36, Mangudi Village, Needamangalam Taluk, Tiruvarur District, from Government Poromboke Manthai to Natham and to issue free Natham Pattas under the Chief Minister's Scheme. Relying on its own order dated 02.02.2022 in the parent writ — passed in tune with the Supreme Court's directions in Rameshbhai Virabhai Chaudhari v. The State of Gujarat (gauchar/grazing land must not be converted or encroached upon) — and its standing requirement that any conversion of Meikaal Poramboke/Mandaiveli land needs equivalent replacement land and this Court's prior approval, the Court held that these petitions sought exactly the contrary of its preservation endeavour, declined to entertain them, and dismissed both, clarifying that dismissal will not bar the petitioners from seeking Patta elsewhere.

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WMP No. 22947 & 23001 of 2026

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 23-06-2026

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE G. JAYACHANDRAN AND THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE N. MALA

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W.M.P.No.22947 of 2026 & W.M.P.No.23001 of 2026

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W.P.No.19286 of 2021

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WMP No. 22947 of 2026 1. V.Pandarinathan Son of Veeraiyan 58/K2 Sakthi Nagar North Mangudi, Koradechery Needamangalam Taluk, Tiruvarur District. … Petitioner Vs

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M.Raja S/o.Ramasamy, No.16-B,Draupathy Amman Koil street, Sothupakkam, Cheyyur Taluk, Kanchipuram, District-603319

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2.The Secretary Revenue Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.

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3.The Director Animal Husbandry and Veterinary service, Nandanam, Chennai-600 035

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4.The District Collector No.62, rajaji salai, Collectorate, Chennai-600 001.

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5.The District Collector Cheyyur-Kanchipuram Road, Gandhi Nagar, collectorate, Kanchipuram-631 501

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Page Nos.1/9

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

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WMP No. 22947 & 23001 of 2026

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6.The District Collector Master Plan complex, NH 205, collectorate, Thiruvallur-602 001

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7.The District Collector TamilNadu Housing Board, collectorate, vellore-632 012

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8.The District Collector Collectorate, GST Road, chengalpet 603 001

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9.The District Collector Collectorate Complex, Mannargudi Road, Vilamal, Tiruvarur 610004.

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10.The Revenue Divisional Officer Pakkupettai St, Mannargudi 614001.

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11.The District Revenue Officer Collectorate, Thiruvaruru 610001.

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12.The Tahsildar Perambur-Nidamangalam Rd, Needamangalam 614404.

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… Respondents

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Prayer: Writ Miscellaneous Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, pleased to accord prior approval to the Respondents 9 to 12 to reclassify the land in Survey No.159/56, No.36, Mangudi Village, Needamangalam Taluk, Tiruvarur Distirct from Government Poromboke Manthai to Natham and to issue free Natham Patta in favour of the Petitioner under the Honble Chief Minister’s.

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WMP No. 23001 of 2026

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1. Ravichandran

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Son of Veeraiyan 58/E, Sakthi Nagar North Mangudi, Koradechery Needamangalam Taluk Tiruvarur District.

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… Petitioner

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Page Nos.2/9

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

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WMP No. 22947 & 23001 of 2026

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Vs.

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1. M.Raja

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S/o.Ramasamy, No.16-B,Draupathy Amman Koil street, Sothupakkam, Cheyyur Taluk, Kanchipuram, District-603319

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2.The Secretary Revenue Department, Secretariat, chennai-600 009

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3.The Director Animal Husbandy and Veterinary service, Nandanam, chennai-600 035

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4.The District Collector No.62, rajaji salai, collectorate , chennai-600 001

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5.The District Collector Cheyyur-Kanchipuram Road, Gandhi Nagar, collectorate, Kanchipuram-631 501

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6.The District Collector Master Plan complex, NH 205, collectorate, Thiruvallur-602 001

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7.The District Collector TamilNadu Housing Board, collectorate, vellore-632 012

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8.The District Collector Collectorate, GST Road, chengalpet 603 001

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9.The District Collector Collectorate Complex, Mannargudi Road, Vilamal, Tiruvarur 610004.

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10.The Revenue Divisional Officer Pakkupettai St, Mannargudi 614001.

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Page Nos.3/9

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

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WMP No. 22947 & 23001 of 2026

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11.The District Revenue Officer Collectorate, Thiruvaruru 610001.

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12.The Tahsildar Perambur-Nidamangalam Rd, Needamangalam 614404.

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… Respondents

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Prayer: Writ Miscellaneous Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, pleased to accord prior approval to the Respondents 9 to 12 to reclassify the land in Survey No.159/57, No.36, Mangudi Village, Needamangalam Taluk, Tiruvarur Distirct from Government Poromboke Manthai to Natham and to issue free Natham Patta in favour of the Petitioner under the Honble Chief Ministers Scheme and pass.

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For Petitioner: Mr.Ramesh Kumar Chopra in both cases

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O R D E R

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(Order of the order made by Dr. G.Jayachandran, J.)

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This Court, in W.P.No.19286 of 2021, on 02.02.2022, after observing that

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Meikkal Poramboke lands are converted indiscriminately to grant patta to third parties and for the purposes which is not of eminent significance, issued the following directions to the Government:

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5. Admittedly, Meikaal poramboke and Mandaiveli

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lands are earmarked for the purpose of grazing cattles and therefore, whenever it is to be converted, equivalent land has to be allocated for the said purpose. The provision regarding conversion at times is being misused

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Page Nos.4/9

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

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WMP No. 22947 & 23001 of 2026

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and therefore, the Apex Court in the case of Rameshbhai Virabhai Chaudhari v. The State of Gujarat, [Civil Appeal No.5135 of 2021, dated 6.9.2021], which dealt with unauthorised encroachment on gauchar land, i.e., grazing land, held that the grazing land should be used only for the purpose for which it is permitted and no encroachment on such land is permissible. The relevant paragraphs of the said judgment are quoted hereunder:

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“It is trite to say that gouchar land can be used only for purposes for which it is permitted to be used. If there is a user contrary to the permissible user, whether by the State or by any third party, the same cannot go on. Rehabilitation of persons is really not required in the present case as only three persons are entitled to an alternative site as per rules. There is of course some dispute whether the encroachers have made permanent structures or kuchha construction for keeping cattle but be that as it may, the user cannot be contrary to what is being permitted for gouchar land, which is a grazing land. In view of the aforesaid, a direction is issued to bring the land in conformity with its use by the State Government taking appropriate action within a maximum period of three months from today.”

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6. Taking into consideration the aforesaid direction read with the Rules permitting conversion of Meikaal Poramboke and Mandaiveli lands in the State of Tamil Nadu, we find it to be appropriate to direct the respondents not to convert those lands for regularization

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Page Nos.5/9

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

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WMP No. 22947 & 23001 of 2026

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of encroachment. For other purposes also, conversion of land cannot be permitted unless equivalent area is identified and earmarked for such purpose. Any order to be passed for it shall be only after the prior approval of this Court. It would be by filing a separate application in the disposed of petition, justifying the conversion of lands and the purpose sought to be achieved, so that the judgment of the Apex Court referred to above is taken to its logical conclusion.

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2. The order been passed in tune with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court to save Meikkal Poramboke been converted.

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3. In such circumstances, the petitioner herein, Mr. V. Pandarinathan, has filed Miscellaneous Petition in W.M.P. No. 22947 of 2026 in the pending writ petition, seeking a direction to respondents 9 to 12 to reclassify the Meikkal Poramboke land in S. No. 159/56, Mangudi Village, Nedamangalam Village, Thiruvarur District, from Government Poramboke to Manthai to Natham , and to issue a free Natham Patta in his favour under the Hon’ble Chief Minister’s Scheme.

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4. Similarly, the petitioner, Mr. Ravichandran, has filed Miscellaneous Petition in W.M.P. No. 23001 of 2026 in the pending writ petition, seeking a direction to respondents 9 to 12 to reclassify the Meikkal Poramboke land in S.

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Page Nos.6/9

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

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WMP No. 22947 & 23001 of 2026

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No. 159/57, Mangudi Village, Nedamangalam Village, Thiruvarur District, from Government Poramboke to Manthai to Natham , and to issue a free Natham Patta in his favour under the Hon’ble Chief Minister’s Scheme.

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5. While this Court is trying to preserve Meikkal Porambke and Manthai

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Veli lands from being converted, the present petitions are filed seeking directions to do the exactly the contrary. Hence, we are not inclined to entertain this petition. Accordingly, these Writ Miscellaneous Petitions stand dismissed. However, the dismissal of this Miscellaneous Petitions will not stand in the way of the petitioners to seek for Patta elsewhere.

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(Dr.G.J,J.) & (N.M, J.) 23-06-2026

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Index :Yes/No. Neutral Citation :Yes/No. bsm

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1.The Secretary Revenue Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.

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2.The Director Animal Husbandry and Veterinary service, Nandanam, Chennai-600 035

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3.The District Collector No.62, Rajaji salai, Collectorate, Chennai-600 001.

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Page Nos.7/9