Madras High Court
T.Pichai vs The District Collector on 9 August, 2023
W.P.No.23138 of 2023
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 09.08.2023
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM
W.P.No.23138 of 2023 &
W.M.P.No.22689 of 2023
T.Pichai ... Petitioner
Vs.
1.The District Collector,
Perambalur District.
2.The Tahsildar,
Kunnam Taluk Office,
Perambalur District. ... Respondents
Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for
issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to take action on
petitioner's representation dated 24.04.2023 and further directing to rectify
the erroneous measurements and boundaries mentioned in the sketch and in
the Field Map Book of Parvai Village East, Kunnam Taluk, Perambalur
District.
For Petitioner : Mr.V.Ramamurthy
For Respondents : Mr.G.Krishnaraja,
Additional Government Pleader
Page 1 of 7
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W.P.No.23138 of 2023
ORDER
The relief sought for in the present writ petition is to direct the
respondents to take action on petitioner's representation dated 24.04.2023
and further direct them to rectify the erroneous measurements and boundaries
mentioned in the sketch and in the Field Map Book of Parvai Village East,
Kunnam Taluk, Perambalur District.
2. The issues raised in the present writ petition were adjudicated by
this Court in a batch of writ petitions in W.P.No.37519 of 2016 [S.Sakkarai
Vs. The Tashildhar, Dharmapuri District] etc., and batch, and a judgment
was delivered on 19.06.2023 and the relevant paragraphs of the judgment are
extracted hereunder:
“36. Section 9 of the Code of Civil
Procedure unambiguously contemplates that “The
Courts shall have jurisdiction to try all suits of a
civil nature excepting suits of which their
cognizance is either expressly or impliedly
barred”.
37. Therefore, a special enactment has no
relevance with reference to a right of the parties to
approach the competent Civil Court of law to
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W.P.No.23138 of 2023
resolve all nature of civil disputes including
boundary dispute, survey dispute, title dispute,
ownership or otherwise. Therefore, neither the
parties nor the authorities need to create an
impression that in the event of boundary dispute,
the parties have to approach the authorities at the
first instance. It is not required that the aggrieved
persons, in the event of boundary dispute has to
approach the authorities for fixing the boundary,
they are at liberty to approach the Civil Court of
law under Section 9 of the Code of Civil Procedure,
which is unambiguous in this regard.
38. Submitting an application for fixing
boundary is an option available to the aggrieved
persons. Once an application is filed, whether the
application is entertainable under the provisions of
the Act is to be determined by the authorities and
only if it is falling within the ambit of the Act, then
alone the survey or fixing of boundary is to be
undertaken. Even in this case, the authorities are
bound to relegate the parties to the competent Civil
Court of law under Section 14 of the Act.
39. It is contended by the petitioner that the
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W.P.No.23138 of 2023
authorities are making certain findings regarding
the title, ownership in their order, while rejecting
the applications. Such findings made by the
authorities either in the patta proceedings or in the
proceedings under the Survey and Boundaries Act
are restricted and to be understood only for the
purpose of arriving a conclusion under the
provisions of the Act and the said patta
proceedings or the proceedings under the Survey
and Boundaries Act would not confer any title or
be taken as a conclusive decision, more specifically
under Section 35 of the Evidence Act.
40. Accordingly, the respondents are
directed to consider the representations /
applications submitted by the petitioners in the
order of seniority and by following the procedures
as contemplated under the Governmental orders
and in consonance with the provisions of the
Survey and Boundaries Act, 1923 and pass
appropriate orders on merits and in accordance
with law. Wherever the applications are already
disposed of and appeals provided under the Act has
been filed, then such appeals are to be decided on
merits and in consonance with the provisions of the
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W.P.No.23138 of 2023
Survey and Boundaries Act.”
3. In view of the fact that the case of the petitioner is also similar to
that of the cases (cited supra), the case of the petitioner is also to be
considered on the same line. Accordingly, this Writ Petition stands disposed
of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
09.08.2023
pal/nl
Index : Yes
Neutral Citation : Yes
Speaking order
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W.P.No.23138 of 2023
To
1.The District Collector,
Perambalur District.
2.The Tahsildar,
Kunnam Taluk Office,
Perambalur District.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.P.No.23138 of 2023
S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.
pal/nl
W.P.No.23138 of 2023
09.08.2023
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
