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V.Sudarshan Rao v. the District Collector

Madras HC5 Feb 2026WP/10423/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Madras High Court, WP No. 10423 of 2025, Abdul Quddhose J., decided 05-02-2026. Patta claim for land in Ebbri Village, Vepanapalli Taluk, Krishnagiri District (S.Nos. 25/1 and 26/1) rejected as the property is forest land; petitioner permitted to pursue compensation by representation to District Collector, Krishnagiri, to be decided within 12 weeks; no opinion on merits of compensation claim; disposed of, no costs. Keywords: patta, reserved forest, forest land, compensation, writ of mandamus, Article 226, Krishnagiri.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition disposed of with liberty to the petitioner to submit a representation seeking compensation within two (2) weeks; the 1st respondent to pass final orders on merits and in accordance with law within twelve (12) weeks thereafter. No costs. ¶36

V.Sudarshan Rao Vs the District Collector — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner is entitled to issuance of patta for the property described in the prayer (S.Nos. 25/1 and 26/1, Ebbri Village, Vepanapalli Taluk), which the respondents contend is forest land. +1 more

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Court's answer

The prayer for issuance of patta cannot be granted, as the property for which patta has been sought by the petitioner is a forest land.

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Ratio / Principle

The Court expressly declined to express any opinion on the merits of the petitioner's claim for compensation.

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Key takeaways

Liberty was granted to the petitioner to submit a representation before the respondents seeking compensation within two (2) weeks from receipt of a copy of the order; on receipt of such representation, the 1st respondent is to pass final orders on merits and in accordance with law within twelve (12) weeks thereafter.ratio¶33

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition (Mandamus) under Article 226 of the Constitution of India — petitioner sought declaration that classification of his property (S.No. 25/1 measuring 861.44 cents and S.No. 26/1 measuring 988.36 cents, total 1849.8 cents, Ebbri Village, Vepanapalli Taluk, Krishnagiri District) as reserved forest by respondents 1 to 4 is illegal and null and void, with consequential relief of patta — 3rd respondent's counter: property is forest land, patta cannot be granted — at hearing, petitioner, on instructions, gave up the patta claim and sought compensation — Court expressed no opinion on the merits of the compensation claim — liberty granted to submit a representation seeking compensation within two (2) weeks; 1st respondent (District Collector, Krishnagiri) to pass final orders on merits and in accordance with law within twelve (12) weeks thereafter — writ petition disposed of. No costs. (Prayer earlier amended as per order dated 28.03.2025 in WMP.12775/2025 in WP.10423/2025.)

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WP No. 10423 of 2025

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 05-02-2026

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE WP No. 10423 of 2025

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V.Sudarshan Rao S/o. Late M.Venkoba Rao, No.3, Sri Raghavendra Nilaya, 1st A Cross, 19th Main Road, Muneshwara Block, Bengaluru- 560 026.

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Petitioner(s)

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The District Collector, Krishnagiri, Krishnagiri District.

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2.The District Revenue Officer, Collector Office, Krishnagiri.

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3.The Thasildar, Taluk Office, Krishnagiri.

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4.The District Forest Officer, District Forest Office, Mathigiri. Hosur- 635 110.

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Respondent(s)

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PRAYER:- Writ Petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for an issuance of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the petitioner property as reserved forest by the 1 to 4 respondents is illega; and null and void and as a consequential relief directing 1 to 3 respondents to issue a patta in favour of the petitioner pertaining to property situated at Ebbri Village,

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

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WP No. 10423 of 2025

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Vepanapalli Taluk, Comprised in 1).S. No. 25/1- Acre 861.44 cents, 2).S.No.26/1-Acre 988.36 cents in all totally measuring an extent of Acre 1849.8 cents.

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(Prayer Amended As Per Order Dated 28.03.2025 In WMP.12775/2025 In

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WP.10423/2025 By NAVJ)

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For Petitioner(s): Mr.T.Ramachandran For Respondent(s): Mr.R.P.Murugan Raja Government Advocate For R1 to R3

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Mr.S.J.Mohamed Sathik For R4

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ORDER

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This writ petition has been filed seeking for an issuance of patta for the

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property more fully described in the prayer to this writ petition in favour of the petitioner.

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2.The 3^rd respondent has filed counter stating that the property for which patta has been sought for by the petitioner is the forest land and therefore, the patta cannot be granted in favour of the petitioner.

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3.Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that since the petitioner has been in possession of the property for a long number of years, the petitioner is entitled to seek compensation. Learned counsel for the petitioner on instructions would submit that now the petitioner is not insisting for issuance of

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

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WP No. 10423 of 2025

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patta in his favour for the property more fully described in the prayer to this writ petition instead the petitioner is seeking for compensation from the respondents.

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4.This Court is not expressing any opinion on the merits of the petitioner’s claim for compensation.

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5.Since the prayer sought for in this writ petition cannot be granted as the property for which patta has been sought by the petitioner is a forest land, the petitioner seeks to grant liberty to seek compensation from the respondents by submitting a representation within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.

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6.No prejudice will be caused to the respondents if the petitioner is directed to submit a representation seeking for compensation and the same is directed to be considered by the respondents on merits and in accordance with law, within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.

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7.Accordingly this Court grants liberty to the petitioner to submit a representation before the respondents seeking compensation, within a period of two (2) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. On receipt of the same within the stipulated time, the 1^st respondent shall pass final orders on merits and in accordance with law within a period of twelve (12) weeks thereafter.

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

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WP No. 10423 of 2025

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8.With the aforesaid directions, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs.

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05-02-2026

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rst

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