S.B.Gandhi vs Superintendent Of Police & Others

S. Manikumar, J

Petitioner has sought for a Writ of Mandamus, directing the Superintendent of Police, Thiruvallur District and Inspector of Police, Land Grabbing, Thiruvallur District/ the 1st and 2nd respondents respectively, to retrieve the pond known as Mannar Kulam to an extent of 25 cents in S.No.268/6 in Keel Muthalampedu, Kavarapettai Village, Gummidipoondi Taluk, Thiruvallur District from Mr.R.S.Munirathinam/the 3rd respondent.

After going through the material on record, on 20.06.2019, we passed the following order:-

Contending inter alia that a Resolution No.17, dated 1/5/2017, has been passed by the Special Officer, Keel Muthalampedu, Kavarapettai Village, Panchayat, recognising the land, on which construction has been made by RMK College, Keel Muthalampedu, Kavarapettai Village, Gummidipoondi Taluk, Thiruvallur District, third respondent, as a pond and for change of classification of the pond, as tank poramboke, and in spite of a complaint, dated 20/5/2017, submitted to the Superintendent of Police, Tiruvallur District, first respondent, to retrieve pond, from RMK, College, the third respondent, has not taken any action, instant writ petition is filed for a Mandamus, directing the 1st and 2nd respondents to retrieve the pond known as Mannar Kulam of an extent of 25 cents in S.No.268/6 in Keel Muthalampedu, Kavarapettai Village, Gummidipoondi Taluk, Thiruvallur District from the 3rd respondent.

Petitioner seemed to have requested the Superintendent of Police, Thiruvallur District and the Inspector of Police, Land Grabbing, Thiruvallur District, respondents 1 and 2, respectively, to take action, for the alleged land grabbing.

On the basis of the instructions, furnished by the Inspector of Police, Anti-land Grabbing, Special Cell, Tiruvallur District, Mr.E.Manoharan, Additional Government Pleader submitted that in connection with the above complaint, in C.No.140 of 2017, dated 24/5/2017, made by the writ petitioner, Inspector of Police, Anti-land Grabbing, Special Cell, Tiruvallur District, has conducted an enquiry, and prima facie found in S.No.268/6, measuring an extent of 2.10 acres, classified as grama natham, in Keel Muthalambedu Village, Gummidipoondi Taluk, Tiruvallur District, there is a pond and there are two temples adjoining the pond.

In the parawar remarks submitted to the learned Government Pleader, Inspector of Police, Anti-land Grabbing Special Cell, Tiruvallur District has stated that he has conducted an enquiry. Mr.Arulanandham, Public Relation Officer of RMK College, participated in the enquiry. Enquiry revealed that details of the pond in S.No.268/6, Keel Muthalambedu Village Grama natham, have been collected by the revenue authorities of Gummidipoondi. Revenue authorities of Gummidipoondi have stated thus:-

"In their letter C.No.3716/2017/A2, dated 5/10/2017, stated that as per the documents reveals that the above said Survey No. belongs to Grama Nattha Vagaipadu" and the same was registered in Village Account and issued two patta to the person of schedule tribes and the remaining land surrounded by shrub/bush. Further the above said land not belong to pond type of land and its belong to Grama Natta Vagaipadu. The RMD College constructed the compound wall in 2 cent land of grama nattha vagaipadu and the same is under their possession."

Inspector of Police, Anti-land Grabbing Special Cell has further stated that only two cents of grama natham land has been occupied by RMK College, the third respondent. From the parawar remarks submitted by the Inspector of Police, Anti-land Grabbing Special Cell, nothing could be deduced, as to whether action has been taken by the second respondent, for the alleged land grabbing, whether it is one cent or two cents, as the case may be. Further, nothing could be deduced as to whether Inspector of Police, Anti-land Grabbing Special Cell has reported his prima facie finding to the revenue authorities, for suitable action.

Mr.R.Krishnasamy, learned counsel for the third respondent College submitted that the alleged construction of compound wall is on grama natham land and that in as much as the land does not vest with the Government, no action can be taken even under the Tamil Nadu Encroachment Act, 1905.

Learned counsel for the third respondent College seeks time to file counter affidavit.

In the foregoing paragraphs, we have recorded that there are no materials to indicate that Inspector of Police, Anti-land Grabbing Special Cell, has reported his prima facie findings to the revenue authorities. Though it is the contention of the petitioner that grama natham land does not vest with the Government, it does not mean that the said land does not vest with any other authority other than the Government. Grama natham land is meant for habitation and it can be used only for such purpose and encroachers have no right to demand that they would still continue to be in occupation and nobody can seek for retrieval of such land meant for habitation.

It is for the revenue authorities to measure and find out as to whether there is any encroachment of land, classified as grama natham. Petitioner has proceeded on the premise that there is land grabbing and hence prayed for the relief as stated supra. Though the concerned local body, Village Panchayat within whose jurisdiction the land is situated or the District administration, the Collector of Tiruvallur District are not impleaded as party respondents in this writ petition, filed for the purpose of proceeding further into the alleged land grabbing, in the absence of an elected body of the Village Panchayat, the Special Officer of the Village Panchayat, and the District Collector, Thiruvallur District, are a necessary and proper parties, for the purpose of proper and effective adjudication of the lis, viz., encroachment, and to have a check and control over the lands classified as grama natham. Therefore, in exercise of powers, under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, we deem it fit to suo motu impleaded District Collector, Tiruvallur District and the Special Officer, Gummidipoondi, Village Panchayat, Gummidipoondi Taluk, as party respondents, in this writ petition. Registry is directed to carry out necessary amendments wherever required.

District Collector, Thiruvallur District is directed to issue suitable orders, for survey of the land, in S.No.268/6, Keel Muthalambedu Village, Gummidipoondi Taluk, Thiruvallur District and to submit a report with a sketch, showing the physical features in the said land, furnish the details, regarding the alleged encroachment, if any, and the action taken, for removal of encroachment.

Post on 27/6/2019."

Pursuant to the directions, District Collector, Thiruvallur District, in R.C.No.12352/2019/B2, dated 24.06.2019, has directed the Tahsildar, Gummidipoondi Taluk, to make spot inspection in S.No.268/6 in Keel Muthalampedu, Gummidipoondi Taluk, Thiruvallur District, in case, if there is any encroachment, remove the same, take possession of the lands and submit a report. Revenue Divisional Officer, Ponneri Taluk, Thiruvallur District, has been directed to supervise, for submission of the report.

Mr.E.Manoharan, learned Additional Government Pleader submitted that land in S.No.268/6 in Keel Muthalampedu, was inspected and it was found that respondent No.3, has encroached 4.5 cents of land in S.No.268/6 and put up a compound wall.

Inasmuch as, the encroachment is on Natham Promboke lands, instructions have been given for removal of the compound wall and it is being done from today onwards.

Mr.R.Krishnasamy, learned counsel for the 3rd respondent, acknowledges the said submission. He submitted that consent for removal of encroached lands, is given, besides as a counsel, he has also instructed the 3rd respondent, to remove the compound wall.

Order of the District Collector, Thiruvallur District in R.C.No.12352/2019/B2, dated 24.06.2019, directing the Tahsildar, Gummidipoondi Taluk, Thiruvallur District, to make spot inspection and to furnish report.

In the letter addressed to the Additional Government Pleader, High Court, Madras, by the Tahsildar, Gummidipoondi Taluk, Thiruvallur District, has detailed the steps taken by him, and the same are extracted hereunder:-

இதனடிப்படையில் கிராம கணக்குகளை பரிசீலனை செய்ததில். பிரஸ்தாப புலம் நில உடைமைப் பதிவு மேம்பாட்டுத் திட்டத்தின் போது அரசால் வெளியிடப்பட்ட ஞஅஞ பதிவேட்டில் கீழ்கண்டவாறு தாக்கலாகி வருகிறது.

பலஸ எண

வகைபாடு

விஸ்தீரணம்

(வெறக்டேரில்)

குறிப்ப

268/6

அரசு புறம்போக்கு

0.85.0 வெறக்டேர்

கிராம நத்தம்

பிரஸ்தாப புலம் 1962-ம் ஆண்டைய செட்டில்மென்ட் திட்டத்தின்போது அரசால் வெளியிடப்பட்ட"அ" பதிவேட்டில் கீழ்கண்டவாறு தாக்கலாகி வருகிறது.

பல எண்

வகைபாடு

விஸ்தீரணம்

(வெறக்டேரில்)

குறிப்ப

268/6

சர்க்கார் புறம்போக்கு

ஏக்கர் 2.10 சென்ட்

கிராம நத்தம்

மேலும.; மேற்படி பிரஸ்தாப புலத்தினை புலத்தணிக்கை செய்ததிலும். நில அளவை செய்ததிலும் மற்றும் கிராம கணக்குகணை பரிசீலனை செய்ததிலும் கீழ்கண்ட விவரங்கள் அறியப்படுகிறது.

பிரஸ்தாப புல எண்,268/6-ன் வகைபாடு மன்னார் குளம் கிடையாது என்பதும். நில உடைமைப் பதிவு மேம்பாட்டுத் திட்டத்தின் போது அரசால் வெளியிடப்பட்ட "அ" பதிவேட்டின்படியும். 1962-ம் ஆண்டைய செட்டில்மென்ட் திட்டத்தின் போது அரசால் வெளியிடப்பட்ட "அ" பதிவேட்டின்படியும் பிரஸ்தாப புலம் "கிராம நத்தம்" என்றே தாக்கலாகி வருகிறது.

பிராஸ்தாப புல எண்,268/6 பூமியில் சமதளமாக இல்லாமல். சிறிது பள்ளமாக காணப்படுகிறது, இதற்கான புகைப்படம் இத்துடன் இணைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

பிரஸ்தாப புல எண்,268/6-ஐ ஒட்டி அமைந்துள்ள தி/ள.RMK கல்வி நிறுவனத்தினரால் பிரஸ்தாப புலத்தில் சுமார் 00187 சதுர மீட்டர் அளவில் சுற்றுசுவர் மு்லம் ஆக்கிரமணம் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது என்று புலத்தணிக்கை மற்றும் நில அளவையின்போது தெரியவருகிறது, அந்த ஆக்ரமணத்தினை விளக்கும் கூட்டு வரைபடம் இத்துடன் இணைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

பார்வை 4டூல் கண்ட திருவள்ளு்ர் மாவட்ட ஆட்சியரின் உத்திரவின்படி மேற்படி ஆக்மணத்தினை அகற்ற இன்று (26.06.2019) நடவடிக்கை மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டு. ஆக்ரமணப் பரப்பினை தி/ள.RMK கல்வி நிறுவனத்தினருக்கு குறியீடு செய்து காண்பித்து. ஆக்ரமணம் அகற்றும் பணி துவங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது,ஆக்ரமணம் முழுமையாக அகற்றப்படும் என தெரிவித்துக்கொள்கிறேன்.

Though Mr.S.Udhayakumar, learned counsel for the petitioner, submitted that the extent of encroachment of lands, is about 25 cents and not 4.5 cents, as found by the revenue authorities. Said contention is not supported by any valid document.

Inasmuch as, action has been taken, on the directions issued by this Court, and that demolition of compound wall on the encroached lands, is also in progress, we are not inclined to issue any further directions.

In view of the above, writ petition is disposed of. No Cost.