Jegatha Vs The District Revenue officer — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

Jegatha Vs The District Revenue officer — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Mandamus granted in effect: the first respondent (District Revenue Officer, Cuddalore) directed to dispose of the petitioner's appeal dated 27.10.2022 on merits and in accordance with law, after hearing the objections of respondents 4 to 8 and any other party deemed fit, adhering to the principles of natural justice, within 12 weeks from receipt of a copy of the order; no opinion expressed on merits; no costs.

Issue for consideration

Whether the first respondent (District Revenue Officer, Cuddalore) should be directed to conduct enquiry on and dispose of the petitioner's appeal dated 27.10.2022, pending on his file.

Court's answer

Since no adverse orders were passed against respondents 4 to 8, notice to them in the writ petition was dispensed with.

Ratio / Principle

No prejudice would be caused to the first respondent if the petitioner's appeal dated 27.10.2022 is considered on merits and in accordance with law, after hearing the objections of respondents 4 to 8 and adhering to the principles of natural justice.

Key takeaways

The writ petition was disposed of by directing the first respondent to dispose of the petitioner's appeal dated 27.10.2022 on merits and in accordance with law, after hearing the objections of respondents 4 to 8 and any other party whom the first respondent deems fit to enquire, adhering to the principles of natural justice, within 12 weeks from receipt of a copy of the order.ratio¶34
The Court expressly did not express any opinion on the merits of the petitioner's appeal dated 27.10.2022, leaving the merits open.obiter¶38

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (Abdul Quddhose, J.) disposed of WP No. 1666 of 2026 (Jegatha v. District Revenue Officer and others), a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of mandamus to direct the first respondent, the District Revenue Officer, Cuddalore, to conduct enquiry on and dispose of the petitioner's appeal dated 27.10.2022 pending on his file. Observing that the petition sought only a limited relief, that no adverse orders were passed against private respondents 4 to 8 (notice to whom was therefore dispensed with), and that no prejudice would be caused to the first respondent, the Court directed the first respondent to dispose of the appeal dated 27.10.2022 on merits and in accordance with law, after hearing the objections of respondents 4 to 8 and any other party deemed fit to enquire, adhering to the principles of natural justice, within 12 weeks from receipt of a copy of the order. The Court expressly refrained from expressing any opinion on the merits of the appeal. No costs.

WP No. 1666 of 2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 27-01-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE

WP No. 1666 of 2026

Jegatha

..Petitioner(s)

Vs

The District Revenue officer

Cuddalore District,

Cuddalore

The Revenu Divisional officer

Cuddalore

Cuddalore District.

The Tahsildar

kurinchipadi taluk

Cuddalore District.

Baby Ammal

Uthayakumar

Ragunathan

Jeyaraman

Bhaskar

..Respondent(s)

Writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking for issuance of a writ of mandamus to direct the 1st respondent to conduct enquiry on the petitioner’s appeal dated 27.10.2022 and dispose the same.

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WP No. 1666 of 2026

For Petitioner(s):	Ms.R.Swetha
For Respondent(s):	Mr.C.Jaya Prakash, GA
	for R1 to R3

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed seeking for a limited relief. The petitioner seeks for early disposal of her appeal dated 27.10.2022 pending on the file of the first respondent.

Mr.C.Jayaprakash, learned Government Advocate, accepts notice on

behalf of the respondents 1 to 3. Since no adverse orders are passed against the respondents 4 to 8, notice to them in this writ petition is dispensed with.

No prejudice will be caused to the first respondent if the petitioner’s appeal dated 27.10.2022 is considered on merits and in accordance with law, after hearing objections of the respondents 4 to 8, and also by adhering to the principles of natural justice. Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of by directing the first respondent to dispose of the petitioner’s appeal dated 27.10.2022 on merits and in accordance with law, after hearing the objections of the respondents 4 to 8 and any other party whom the first respondent deems fit to enquire by adhering to the principles of natural justice, within a period of 12

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WP No. 1666 of 2026

weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. This Court is not expressing any opinion on the merits of the petitioner’s appeal dated 27.10.2022. No Costs.

27-01-2026

Neutral Citation: Yes/No

RKM

To

The District Revenue officer Cuddalore District, Cuddalore

The Revenu Divisional officer Cuddalore Cuddalore District.

The Tahsildar kurinchipadi taluk Cuddalore District

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WP No. 1666 of 2026

ABDUL QUDDHOSE, J.

RKM

WP No. 1666 of 2026

27-01-2026

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