Summary: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court has canceled a previous decision about a land ownership dispute in Tirunelveli, instructing the Revenue Divisional Officer to review the case again.
S. Esakkipandian filed a request against a decision from the local government officer of Palayamkottai Taluk. He wanted the court to cancel that decision and order the Revenue Divisional Officer to give him ownership papers for land in Munneerpallam village.
The main issue was about which official should decide on the ownership papers. According to a rule from August 2024, the Revenue Divisional Officer, not the local government officer, should handle these cases. S. Esakkipandian's lawyer said this rule applied to their case.
"The petitioner's case falls within Category-1 as mentioned in the circular," said the lawyer.
The local government officer rejected S. Esakkipandian's request because the land was used for business. However, S. Esakkipandian argued that it was partly for living, with a house and shops.
Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy found that the local government officer's decision was based on wrong ideas. The court noted that S. Esakkipandian wasn't applying as someone without land but had claims backed by official documents.
"The matter requires reconsideration," the court stated.
The court canceled the local government officer's decision and sent the case back to the Revenue Divisional Officer. A new decision should be made within three months, ensuring S. Esakkipandian gets a fair chance to present his case.
This decision shows how important it is to follow the right procedures and understand how land is used in legal disagreements.
