Disposed¶28

P.Murugan Pillai v. The District Collector

Madras HC8 Jan 2026WP(MD)/63/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Kanyakumari encroachment removal confined to S.No.59/4; petitioner's possession of assigned land S.No.59/5A (Esanthimangalam North village, Thovalai Taluk, Thuvarankadu) protected; 1973 assignment to Thanupillai, 2010 purchase from legal heirs; patta request not expressly ordered; proper survey directed on pain of contempt; Article 226 certiorarified mandamus writ disposed of, no costs; Madurai Bench, G.R.Swaminathan & B.Pugalendhi JJ., 08.01.2026.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition disposed of with the direction that encroachment removal be strictly confined to S.No.59/4 and the petitioner's possession of S.No.59/5A not be affected, with a proper survey to be conducted; no costs; connected miscellaneous petition closed. The impugned letters were not formally quashed and no explicit direction to grant patta was given. ¶28

P.Murugan Pillai Vs The District Collector — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

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W.P.(MD)No.63 of 2026

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED: 08.01.2026

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI

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W.P(MD)No.63 of 2026 & W.M.P.(MD)No.30 of 2026

P.Murugan Pillai

... Petitioner

Vs.

1.The District Collector, Kanyakumari District, Nagercoil.

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2.The Tahsildar, Thovalai Taluk, Boothapandi, Kanyakumari District.

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3.The Assistant Engineer, Boothapandi Irrigation Section, Water Resource Organization, Public Works Department, Boothapandi Post, Kanyakumari District. ... Respondents

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Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records relating to the impugned proceedings in Letter No.Ko 14B/237/2005 dated 09.06.2025 and 1/4

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

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W.P.(MD)No.63 of 2026

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Letter No.Ko 14B/389/2025 dated 01.09.2025 issued by the 3rd respondent and quash the same and consequently directing the 2nd respondent to grant patta to the petitioner in respect of the property in Survey No.59/5A, Esanthimangalam north revenue village of Thovalai Taluk, Thuvarankadu.

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For Petitioner :Mr.M.P.Senthil For Respondents :Mr.C.Venkatesh Kumar Special Government Pleader for R1 to R3

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ORDER

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Heard both sides.

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The petitioner questions the impugned communication whereby the encroachment in S.No.59/4, Esanthimangalam North Revenue Village, Thovalai Taluk, Thuvarankadu is sought to be removed. The petitioner categorically states that he has no claim over S.No.59/4. On the other hand, he states that he had purchased the property comprised in S.No.59/5A. Copy of the assignment order issued way back in 1973 has been enclosed in the typed set of papers. Assignment was in favour of one Thanupillai. The petitioner is said to have purchased from the legal heirs of Thanupillai in the year 2010.

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We make it clear that action for removal of encroachment will be strictly confined to S.No.59/4 and that the petitioner's possession in S.No.59/5A

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2/4

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

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W.P.(MD)No.63 of 2026

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will not be in any way affected. It would be in the fitness of things that proper

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survey is conducted. Otherwise, the respondents may run the risk of inviting

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contempt.

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With the aforesaid direction, the writ petition is disposed of. No

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costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

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[G.R.S., J.] [B.P., J.] 08.01.2026

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NCC : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No Index : Yes / No rmi

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1.The District Collector, Kanyakumari District, Nagercoil.

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2.The Tahsildar, Thovalai Taluk, Boothapandi, Kanyakumari District.

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3.The Assistant Engineer, Boothapandi Irrigation Section, Water Resource Organization, Public Works Department, Boothapandi Post, Kanyakumari District.

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3/4

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

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W.P.(MD)No.63 of 2026

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G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J

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and

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B.PUGALENDHI, J.