Madras High Court
Gudalur And Pandalur Farmers ... vs The Revenue Divisional Officer on 15 October, 2025
Author: M.Dhandapani
Bench: M.Dhandapani
W.P.No.8668 of 2020
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 15.10.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI
W.P.No.8668 of 2020
And
W.M.P.Nos.10501 and 10502 of 2020
Gudalur and Pandalur Farmers Association
Represented by its Secretary
Mr.John P.Zachariah ... Petitioner
Vs.
1.The Revenue Divisional Officer,
Revenue Divisional Office,
Gudalur,
Nilgiris.
2.The Thashildar,
Gudalur,
Nilgiris. ... Respondents
Prayer:
Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to
issue a Writ of Certiorari to the call for the records of the first
respondent passed in order Ref. No.7R/1/1429 dated .. 03.2020
(signed on 13.03.2020) and quash the same.
For Petitioner : Mr.M.S.Krishnan
Senior Counsel
for M/s.John Zachariah
For Respondents : Mr.T.M.Rajangam
1/4
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 04/11/2025 03:46:41 pm )
W.P.No.8668 of 2020
Government Advocate
ORDER
This writ petition has been filed seeking issuance of Writ of Certiorari to call for the records of the first respondent passed in order Ref. No.7R/1/1429 dated .. 03.2020 (signed on 13.03.2020) and quash the same.
2.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that most of the lands in and around Gudalur belonged to Jenmi Landlords namely Namboodripads of Nilambur in Kerala. The Jenmis had leased out the properties under the Malabar Tenancy Act. After bifurcation of the States, the Gudalur Jenmom Estates (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1969 was notified and came into force from 27.11.1974 for grant of ryotwari patta. The members of the petitioner Association applied for ryotwari patta after the Jenmom Act was brought into force, however, their claims were rejected and aggrieved by the same, they preferred appeals before the Appellate Tribunal at Udhagamandalam and the appeals were also dismissed and challenging the same, they filed S.T.A.Nos.8 of 2020 etc., batch before this Court and the same is pending. In the meanwhile, in the absence of ryotwari patta in favour of the members of the petitioner 2/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 04/11/2025 03:46:41 pm ) W.P.No.8668 of 2020 Association, the land held by them has been classified as 'assessed waste'. Hence this Court may, without going into the merits of the case, close this writ petition by observing that the impugned classification is subject to the result of S.T.A.Nos.8 of 2020 etc., batch pending before this Court.
3.Recording the submission made by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, this writ petition is closed. The order of the first respondent in Ref. No.7R/1/1429 dated .. 03.2020 (signed on 13.03.2020) is subject to the result of S.T.A.Nos.8 of 2020 etc., batch pending before this Court. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are also closed.
15.10.2025 pri Index: Yes/ No Speaking Order: Yes/ No NCC: Yes/ No To
1.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Gudalur, Nilgiris.
2.The Thashildar, Gudalur, 3/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 04/11/2025 03:46:41 pm ) W.P.No.8668 of 2020 Nilgiris.
M.DHANDAPANI,J.
pri W.P.No.8668 of 2020 And W.M.P.Nos.10501 and 10502 of 2020 15.10.2025 4/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 04/11/2025 03:46:41 pm )