K.Natarajan Vs The District Collector — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

K.Natarajan Vs The District Collector — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Direction to the newly impleaded 10th respondent, the District Revenue Officer (Land & Estate), Chennai, to pass final orders on merits and in accordance with law on the petitioner's appeal dated 07.04.2025, after hearing the objections of respondents 4 to 9 and any other third party deemed fit to be enquired, adhering to the principles of natural justice, within twelve weeks from receipt of a copy of the order; writ petition disposed of with no order as to costs.

Issue for consideration

Whether a direction should issue to the competent authority to dispose of the petitioner's appeal dated 07.04.2025 (pending before the 1st respondent) on merits and in accordance with law, within a time frame fixed by the Court. +1 more

Court's answer

This Court directed the newly impleaded 10th respondent - the District Revenue Officer (Land & Estate), Chennai - to pass final orders on merits and in accordance with law on the petitioner's appeal dated 07.04.2025.

Ratio / Principle

The final orders are to be passed after hearing the objections of respondents 4 to 9 and any other third party the 10th respondent deems fit to enquire, adhering to the principles of natural justice, within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.

Key takeaways

The competent authority to dispose of the petitioner's appeal is the District Revenue Officer (Land & Estate), Chennai.ratio¶36
Since the District Revenue Officer, Chennai, had not been arrayed as a party respondent, this Court, exercising its suo motu power, impleaded the District Revenue Officer (Land & Estate), Chennai as the 10th respondent in the writ petition.ratio¶36
This Court is not expressing any opinion on the merits of the petitioner's appeal.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (Abdul Quddhose, J.), by order dated 16-04-2026 in W.P. No. 13956 of 2026, disposed of a writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a mandamus for time-bound disposal of the petitioner's representations dated 05.02.2026 and 16.03.2026. The petitioner's appeal dated 07.04.2025, filed before the 1st respondent (District Collector, Chennai) against the order of the 2nd respondent (Revenue Divisional Officer, Chennai District) dated 14.03.2025, was pending. Holding the District Revenue Officer (Land & Estate), Chennai to be the competent authority to dispose of the appeal, the Court suo motu impleaded that officer as the 10th respondent and directed him to pass final orders on merits and in accordance with law on the appeal dated 07.04.2025, after hearing the objections of respondents 4 to 9 and any other third party he deemed fit to enquire, adhering to the principles of natural justice, within twelve weeks of receipt of a copy of the order. The Court expressly expressed no opinion on the merits of the appeal, dispensed with notice to respondents 4 to 9 since no adverse orders were passed against them, and made no order as to costs.

WP No. 13956 of 2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 16-04-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE

WP No. 13956 of 2026

K.Natarajan

..Petitioner(s)

Vs

The District Collector Office of the collectorate, Chennai 600 001.

The Revenue Divisional officer Chennai District.

The Tahsildar Office of the Thiruvottiyur, Chennai District.

A.S.K.R. Trust Rep. by Ravi Paints D. Ramesh Rajan S/o Anandarajan no 9 T.H. Road, thiruvottiyur, Chennai 600 019.

Mohanarajan V.S.K.Duraisamy Nadar, (Ravi Paints) Adayar Club Gate Road, Chennai 600 028.

SVS oils Mills Rep by Senthil Kumar, S/o Sivalinga Nadar, no 1 East Kalmandapam Road, Royapuram, Chennai 600 013.

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Kaliyaperumal

Rahils

S.V.S. oil Mills Rep by its Partner V.R. jayakumaran New No 11, Thiruvottiyur High Road, Chennai 600 019.

10.The District Revenue Officer (Land & Estate), Greater Chennai Corporation, Ribbon Building campus, Chennai 600 003.

(R10 suo-motu impleaded vide order of this Court dated 16.04.2026 made in W.P.No.13956/2026)

..Respondent(s)

PRAYER – This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 1st and 2nd respondent to dispose the petitioners’ representation dated 05.02.2026 and 16.03.2026 within time bound manner.

For Petitioner(s): Mr.R.Karunagaran For Respondent(s): Mr.D.Ravichander, Special Government Pleader (For R1 to 3 & 10)

O R D E R

This Writ petition has been filed seeking a limited relief. The petitioner

seeks for an early disposal of the petitioner’s appeal dated 07.04.2025, pending

on the file of the 1^st respondent. Aggrieved by the order of the 2^nd respondent dated 14.03.2025, the petitioner preferred the aforesaid appeal dated 07.04.2025, before the 1^st respondent.

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2.Mr.D.Ravichander, learned Special Government Pleader, accepts notice

on behalf of the respondents 1 to 3. No prejudice would be caused to the respondents if a direction is issued to the competent authority to dispose of the petitioner’s appeal dated 07.04.2025 on merits and in accordance with law, after hearing the objections of the respondents 4 to 9 and any other necessary party, whom the 1^st respondent deem it fit to enquire and by adhering to the Principles of natural justice, within the time frame to be fixed by this Court. This Court is not expressing any opinion on the merits of the petitioner’s appeal. Since no adverse orders are passed as against the respondents 4 to 9, notice to the respondents 4 to 9 in this Writ Petition is dispensed with by this Court.

3.The competent authority to dispose of the petitioner’s appeal is the District Revenue Officer (Land & Estate), Chennai . Since the District Revenue Officer, Chennai, has not been arrayed as a party respondent in this Writ Petition, this Court, by exercising its suo-motu power, is impleading the District Revenue Officer (Land & Estate), Chennai , as a party 10^th respondent in this Writ Petition.

4.For the foregoing reasons, this Court directs the newly impleaded 10^th respondent to pass final orders on merits and in accordance with law on the

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WP No. 13956 of 2026

petitioner’s appeal dated 07.04.2025, after hearing the objections of the respondents 4 to 9 and any other third party whom the 10^th respondent deems fit to enquire and by adhering to the Principals of natural justice, within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

5.With the above direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of. However, there shall be no order as to costs.

16-04-2026

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

GSA

To

The District Collector Office of the collectorate, Chennai 600 001.

The Revenue Divisional officer Chennai District.

The Tahsildar

Office of the Thiruvottiyur, Chennai District.

The District Revenue Officer (Land & Estate),

Greater Chennai Corporation,

Ribbon Building campus, Chennai 600 003.

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ABDUL QUDDHOSE, J.

GSA

WP No. 13956 of 2026

16-04-2026

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