Disposed¶38

Pavadaikonar v. The District Collector

Madras HC12 Mar 2026WP/9967/2021

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Keywords: writ of mandamus; Article 226 of the Constitution of India; Government Poromboke land; encroachment removal; inspection and survey by Tahsildar; Keelpennathur Taluk; Tiruvannamalai District; pattadar claim by private respondents 7 and 8; representation/appeal dated 04.03.2021; G.O.Ms.No.540 Revenue (LD6(2)) Department dated 04.12.2014; enforcement action under relevant Statutes and Rules; twelve-week compliance timeline; disposal without costs; title dispute left to administrative survey process.

What did the court decide?

Direction to the 5th respondent (Tahsildar, Keelpennathur Taluk) to inspect and survey the land, identify encroachments if any, and initiate enforcement action per the relevant Statutes and Rules in force, completing the exercise within twelve weeks of receipt of the order; no order as to costs. ¶38

Pavadaikonar 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 respondents 1 to 6 should be directed to consider the petitioner's representation dated 04.03.2021 and take action for removal of the alleged encroachments on Government Poromboke land by respondents 7 and 8.

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Court's answer

The Court directed the 5th respondent (Tahsildar) to conduct an inspection and survey of the subject land, identify the encroachments, if any, and thereafter initiate enforcement action.

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Ratio / Principle

Enforcement action is to follow the procedure contemplated under the relevant Statutes and Rules in force, and the entire exercise shall be completed within twelve weeks from receipt of a copy of the order.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

MADRAS HIGH COURT — W.P.No.9967 of 2021 (disposed of 12.03.2026; Coram: S.M. Subramaniam and K. Surender, JJ.; order by S.M. Subramaniam, J.). Pavadaikonar filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of mandamus directing official respondents 1 to 6 (District Collector, Superintendent of Police, Revenue Divisional Officer, District Revenue Officer, Tahsildar and Head Surveyor of Tiruvannamalai) to consider his representation/appeal dated 04.03.2021, framed with reference to G.O.Ms.No.540 Revenue (LD6(2)) Department dated 04.12.2014, concerning alleged encroachment of Government Poromboke land by private respondents 7 and 8 (Babu s/o Selvaraj and Chandrasekaran s/o Kesavan), who contended they were pattadars of a portion of the land. The Court did not adjudicate the rival title/pattadar claim; it directed the 5th respondent (Tahsildar) to conduct an inspection and survey of the land, identify encroachments, if any, and initiate enforcement action following the procedure contemplated under the relevant Statutes and Rules in force, completing the exercise within twelve weeks from receipt of a copy of the order. Writ petition disposed of; no order as to costs.

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W.P.No.9967 of 2021

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED : 12.03.2026

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CORAM

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THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S. M. SUBRAMANIAM

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AND

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THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE K. SURENDER

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W.P.No.9967 of 2021

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Pavadaikonar S/o.Ponna Konar

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... Petitioner

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vs.

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The District Collector Tiruvannamalai District Tiruvannamalai.

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The Superintendent of Police Tiruvannamalai District Tiruvannamalai.

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The Revenue Divisional Officer Tiruvannamalai Revenue Division Tiruvannamalai District.

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The District Revenue Officer Collectorate Tiruvannamalai District.

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The Tahsildar Keelpennathur Taluk Tiruvannamalai District.

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Page Nos.1/5

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

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W.P.No.9967 of 2021

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6. The Head Surveyor Keelpennathur Taluk Office Keelpennathur, Thiruvannamalai District.

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Babu S/o.Selvaraj

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8. Chandrasekaran S/o.Kesavan … Respondents

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Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 6 to consider the petitioner’s representation / appeal dated 04.03.2021 and take proper action within a stipulated time as per G.O.Ms.No.540 Revenue (LD6(2)) Department dated 04.12.2014.

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For Petitioner : Mr.C.H.Mohith Sai for Mr.K.Kathiresan For Respondents : Mr.T.Arunkumar Additional Government Pleader for R1 to R6 Mr.R.Bharanidharan, for R7 Mr.K.Balasubramaniam, for R8 *********

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O R D E R

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[Made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J., ]

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The writ of mandamus has been instituted seeking a direction to the respondents 1 to 6 to consider the representation dated 04.03.2021 submitted by the petitioner for removal of encroachments.

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Page Nos.2/5

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

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W.P.No.9967 of 2021

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The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the Government Poromboke land has been encroached upon by the respondents 7 and 8 and that despite the complaint given by the petitioner, no action has been taken by the authorities. Thus, the present writ petition came to be instituted.

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The learned counsel for the respondents 7 and 8 would oppose by stating that a portion of the land belongs to them and that they are pattadars and therefore, the complaint filed by the petitioner is incorrect.

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The learned Additional Government Pleader for the respondents 1 to 6 submits that the authorities would conduct a survey and initiate appropriate actions in the manner known to law.

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Considering the arguments advanced by the parties, this Court directs the 5^th respondent to conduct an inspection and survey of the said land, identify the encroachments, if any and thereafter initiate enforcement action by following the procedure contemplated under the relevant Statutes and Rules in force. Such exercise shall be completed within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

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Page Nos.3/5

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

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W.P.No.9967 of 2021

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With the above direction, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. There

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shall be no order as to costs.

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(S.M.S.,J.) (K.S.,J.) 12.03.2026