Devaki vs The District Collector
2025 Latest Caselaw 7000 Mad

Madras High Court

Devaki vs The District Collector on 12 September, 2025

Author: S.M.Subramaniam

Bench: S.M.Subramaniam, C.Saravanan

                                                                                               W.A.No.2280 of 2022
                                                                                               --------------------------
                                  THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
                                                   DATED: 12.09.2025
                                                           CORAM:
                              THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM
                                                 AND
                                 THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.SARAVANAN

                                                 W.A.No. 2280 of 2022

                1.Devaki
                2.Revaty
                3.Karthikeyan
                4.Pushpa
                5.D.Shanthi                                                              ...Appellants

                                                                Vs.

                1.The District Collector,
                  Villupuram.

                2.The Special Tahsildar,
                  Adhi Dravidar Welfare Scheme,
                  Ulundurpettai,
                  Villupuram District.

                3.Kasthuri
                4.Sundaram
                5.Shanmugam                                                              ...Respondents


                PRAYER: The Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent praying
                to set aside the order dated 15.06.2022 in W.P.No.3812 o f2016 and allow the
                Writ Petition as prayed for.

                1/5


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                                                                                         W.A.No.2280 of 2022
                                                                                         --------------------------


                                  For Appellants      : Mrs.R.Thenamirtha Shyamala


                                  For Respondents : Mr.Vadivelu Deenadayalan,
                                                        Addl. Govt. Pleader for RR1 and 2
                                                        RR3 to 5 – No appearance


                                                             ******
                                                    JUDGMENT

(Judgment of the Court was delivered by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.)

The writ order dated 15.06.2022 in W.P.No.3812 of 2016 is under

challenge in the present Writ Appeal.

2. It is not in dispute between the parties that the acquisition proceedings

commenced in the year 1996 under the The Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Land for

Harijan Welfare Schemes Act, 1978 and an award was passed on 09.12.1996.

The grievances of the appellants are that the quantum of award is not

incommensurate with the market value of the subject property acquired. That

apart, the procedures as contemplated under the Act were not followed. The

fact remains that the acquisition proceedings were completed in all respects and

the lands acquired were distributed to the landless poor Adi Dravidar people,

more specifically for 100 beneficiaries.

3. The learned counsel for the appellants in all fairness would submit that

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--------------------------

they are not intending to resume the land, but seeking enhancement of the

compensation.

4. If so, the appellants ought to have approached the competent Court /

Authority seeking enhancement of compensation in the manner known to law.

The grounds relating to the allegations of non-adherence of the procedures

under the old Land Acquisition Act cannot be entertained at this length of time,

since the acquisition proceedings ended long back and the lands acquired were

distributed to 100 beneficiaries. However, it is for the appellants to approach

the appropriate forum seeking compensation, if permissible under law.

5. With the above observations, the Writ Appeal stands dismissed. No

costs.

                                                                            (S.M.S., J.)       (C.S.N., J.)
                                                                                      12.09.2025
                dsa
                Index            :Yes/No
                Neutral Citation :Yes/No
                Speaking/Non-speaking order

                To:

                1.The District Collector,



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                                                                                  --------------------------
                   Villupuram.

                2.The Special Tahsildar,
                  Adhi Dravidar Welfare Scheme,
                  Ulundurpettai,
                  Villupuram District.







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                                                                                  --------------------------
                                                                        S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.
                                                                                        and
                                                                             C.SARAVANAN, J.

                                                                                                      dsa









                                                                                         12.09.2025

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