A.Nelliyan Vs The District Registrar (Admin) — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

A.Nelliyan Vs The District Registrar (Admin) — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No substantive writ relief; petition disposed of with observations - petitioner's objection to be kept on record and considered upon any future presentation for registration, and liberty reserved to seek appropriate reliefs from the competent Civil Court; no costs.

Issue for consideration

Whether a writ of mandamus under Article 226 can direct the Sub Registrar not to entertain or register documents relating to the petitioner's subject properties.

Court's answer

A writ of mandamus directing the Sub Registrar not to entertain or register documents relating to the subject properties cannot be granted in exercise of writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.

Ratio / Principle

A person seeking to restrain respondents 3 and 4 or any other person from dealing with the properties must approach the competent Civil Court and seek appropriate reliefs in accordance with law.

Key takeaways

Any objection submitted by the petitioner shall be kept on record by the Sub Registrar.ratio¶30
If and when a document relating to the subject properties is presented for registration, it shall be dealt with strictly in accordance with law and any objection available on record shall be considered in the manner known to law.ratio¶30
Liberty is reserved to the petitioner to approach the competent Civil Court, if so advised.ratio

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

MADRAS HIGH COURT (MADURAI BENCH), single-judge order dated 05.06.2026 (Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy): W.P.(MD)No.14892 of 2026 disposed of at the admission stage. Petitioner A. Nelliyan, claiming absolute ownership, sought a writ of mandamus directing the Joint-II Sub Registrar, Karaikudi (Sivagangai District), not to entertain or register any document concerning four plots in Kottaiyur Nattar Layout (A/B/C/F Blocks) within Karaikudi Corporation limits. HELD: such a direction cannot be granted in exercise of writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India; one who wishes to restrain others from dealing with property must seek appropriate reliefs before the competent Civil Court. OBSERVATIONS: the petitioner's objection shall be kept on record, and any document subsequently presented for registration shall be dealt with strictly in accordance with law, with any objection on record considered in the manner known to law; liberty reserved to approach the Civil Court. No opinion expressed on the merits, disposal having occurred without notice to private respondents 3 and 4. No costs. No precedent cases cited.

W.P.(MD)No.14892 of 2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED : 05.06.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY

W.P.(MD)No.14892 of 2026

A.Nelliyan

... Petitioner

-vs-

1.The District Registrar (Admin), Karaikudi Registration District, Karaikudi.

2.The Sub Registrar Joint-II, Joint-II Sub Registrar Office, Karaikudi, Sivagangai District.

3.Adaikalavan Palaniyappan

4.KM.Ramanathan ... Respondents

Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the second respondent not to entertain or register any document without hearing the petitioner's objection pertaining with respect to the property comprised in Plot No.42, admeasuring 10500 sq.ft. (24 Cents) ,in T.S.No.1092, Survey Block 20, Survey Ward 2, situated at Kottaiyur Nattar Layout A Block, Plot No.10, ad-measuring 12141 sq.ft. (27.87 Cents), in T.S.No.1985, Survey Block 51, Survey Ward 2,

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W.P.(MD)No.14892 of 2026

situated at Thilagar Nagar to Valluvar Salai Road, in Kottaiyur Nattar Layout B Block, Plot No.54, admeasuring 5853.44 sq.ft. (13.42 cents), in T.No.2289, Survey Block 53, Survey Ward 2, situated in Kottaiyur Nattar Layout C Block and Plot No.57, ad-measuring 4045.76 sq.ft. (9.28 cents), in T.S.No.1262, Survey Block 21, Survey Ward 2, Kottaiyur Nattar Layout F Block, within Karaikudi Corporation limits, by considering the petitioner's representation dated 13.04.2026 and pass appropriate orders, within the stipulated time fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.R.Murugan

For R1 and R2 : Ms.P.Sudarkodi Nachiar Standing Counsel

ORDER

The Writ Petition has been filed seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the second respondent not to entertain or register any document in respect of the properties described in the prayer to the writ petition.

2 . The case of the petitioner is that he is the absolute owner of the subject properties and that the private respondents, namely, the respondents 3 and 4, are attempting to deal with the same without having any right, title or interest therein.

3 . The Writ Petition is being disposed of at the admission stage without issuing notice to the respondents 3 and 4. Therefore, this Court is not expressing

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W.P.(MD)No.14892 of 2026

any opinion on the merits of the claims and counterclaims that may arise between the parties.

4 . The relief sought by the petitioner is a direction to the Sub Registrar not to entertain or register any document relating to the subject properties. Such a relief cannot be granted in exercise of the writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. If the petitioner seeks to restrain the respondents 3 and 4 or any other person from dealing with the properties, it is always open to him to approach the competent Civil Court and seek appropriate reliefs in accordance with law.

5 . Insofar as the Sub Registrar is concerned, any objection submitted by the petitioner shall be kept on record. If and when any document relating to the subject properties is presented for registration, the same shall be dealt with strictly in accordance with law and any objection available on record shall be considered in the manner known to law.

6 . With the above observations and reserving liberty to the petitioner to approach the competent Civil Court, if so advised, the Writ Petition stands

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W.P.(MD)No.14892 of 2026

disposed of. No costs.

05.06.2026

NCC : No smn2

To:-

1.The District Registrar (Admin), Karaikudi Registration District, Karaikudi.

2.The Sub Registrar Joint-II, Joint-II Sub Registrar Office, Karaikudi, Sivagangai District.

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W.P.(MD)No.14892 of 2026

D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY, J.

smn2

W.P.(MD)No.14892 of 2026

05.06.2026

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