2018 Imp - Kamatchi Ammal v. Village Panchayat President, (Madras)
2018 Imp - Kamatchi Ammal v. Village Panchayat President, (Madras)
Kamatchi ammal v. Village Panchayat President, (Madras) : Law Finder Doc Id # 1386635
Use Law Finder doc id for citation.
MADRAS HIGH COURT
Before:- Mr. M.V.Muralidaran, J.
CRP(PD)No. 5155 of 2011 and M.P.No. 1 of 2011. D/d. 17.07.2017.
Kamatchi ammal and anr. - Petitioners
Versus
The Village Panchayat President Kadiyar Village and anr. - Respondents
For the Petitioner :- Mr.N.Suresh, Advocate.
Land Encroachment Act, 1905, Section 2.
Cases Referred :
A.K.Thillaivanam, A.K.Dayalan v. The District Collector, Chengai Anna District at Kancheepuram, The
District Revenue Officer, Kancheepuram, Chengai Anna District, The Revenue Divisional Officer,
Kancheepuram, Chengai Anna District and The Tahsildar, Sriperumbudur Taluk, Chengai Anna
District 1993 (3) L.W. 603
A.Srinivasan, S.Rukmani Ammal v. The Tahsildar, Egmore Nungambakkam Taluk, Madras-600 031,
2010 (1) L.W. 123
Chinnathambi Goundan v. Venkatasubramania Ayyar (49 L.W. 326), decided on 6.12.1938
Executive Officer, Kadathur Town Panchayat, Harur Taluk, Dharmapuri District v. V.Swaminatham,
The State of Tamil Nadu, rep. by its Secretary, Revenue Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600
009, The District Collector, Dharmapuri District, Dharmapuri, The Revenue Divisional Officer,
Dharmapuri District, Dharmapuri 2004 (3) L.W. 278
M.S.Krishnan (Died) v. Government of Tamil Nadu rep. by the District Collector Salem,The Revenue
Divisional Officer, O/O, the Revenue Divisional Office, Salem, The Tahsildar, Taluk Office, Fort Main
Road, Salem, Arulmigu Sri Mariamman Koil Devasthanam rep. by the President Secretary and
Treasurer of the Trustees 2001 (2) L.W. 723
Muthammal (died) v. The State of Tamil Nadu, rep. by the Collector of Salem District, Salem, The
Revenue Divisional Officer, Namakkal, Salem District 2006 (3) L.W. 361
Palani Ammal v. L.Sethurama Aiyangar 1949 (1) MLJ 290 : 62 L.W.204
S.Rengaraja Iyengar v. Achikannu Ammal 1959 (2) MLJ 513 : 72 L.W. 767
Syed Abdul Jabbar v. The Executive Officer, Selection Grade Town Panchayat, Denkanikottai,
Dharmapuri District, 2010 (3) TLNJ 643 (Civil)
Thillaivanam v. the District Collector, Chengai Anna Dist. At Kanchipuram, 1998 (3) L.W.603.
LAW FINDER
Submitted By: Venkatraman J
PDF downloaded from the online archives of Chawla Publications(P) Ltd.
ORDER
M.V.Muralidaran, J. - The petitioners are the plaintiffs in O.S.No.10 of 2010, on the file of the
learned Principal District Munsif, Thirukoilur.
2. The case of the petitioners/plaintiffs is that they filed the suit in O.S.No.10 of 2010 before the
learned Principal District Munsif, Thirukoilur, for declaration and for permanent injunction against
the respondents/defendants.
3. The suit properties are situated at Kadiyar Village, Thirukoilur Taluk, Villupuram District, which
is classified as Gramanatham in the Revenue Records. The petitioners/plaintiffs also stated that the
first item of the suit schedule of property belongs to the 1st petitioner/1st plaintiff and the second
item of the suit schedule of property belongs to the 2nd petitioner/2nd plaintiff and the entire suit
properties are in absolute possession and enjoyment of the petitioners/plaintiffs and their
forefathers time in immemorial.
4. It is also the case of the petitioners/plaintiffs is that there is a property adjacent to the northern
side of the suit schedule of property and their forefathers have been enjoying the same as their
Cattle shed and Cart shed for storing hay and now used for the Tractor shed. Considering the
petitioners/plaintiffs case, the time immemorial enjoyment of the suit schedule of property, the 1st
respondent viz., the District Collector, Villupuram District, also confirmed the title and issue patta in
RS.No.79/99 in favour of the petitioners/plaintiffs. Therefore, the suit properties are absolute
possession of the petitioners/plaintiffs.
5. The petitioner also states that earlier the petitioners/plaintiffs were filed a civil suit in O.S.No.901
of 1994 before the very same learned Principal District Muunsif Court, Thirukoilur, against the 3rd
parties and the same was also decreed on 03.08.2000. Therefore, the respondents/defendants in this
suit have no right or title over the suit properties. As per the direction of the District Collector, the
1st respondent herein had permitted the 2nd respondent Village Panchayat President to make
construction a building in the village and the 2nd respondent taking advantage of that with a view
to reck the vengence due to recent local Panchayat Election, the 2nd respondent Village Panchayat
President arranged to construct a building on 05.01.2010 in the suit schedule of properties.
Therefore, the petitioners/plaintiffs are filed the suit in O.S.No.10 of 2010. Along with the suit, the
petitioners were filed Interlocutory Application in I.A.No.45 of 2010 for temporary injunction
restraining the respondents, their men and subordinates from interfering into the petitioners
peaceful possession and enjoyment of the suit schedule of properties.
6. On receipt of the Interlocutory Application, the 2nd respondent has filed counter, which was
adopted by the 1st respondent in which he denied the entire allegations set out in the affidavit and
they admitted that the suit schedule of property situated at Kadiyar Village, Thirukoilur and the
same was classified as Gramanatham. The respondents were denied that the 1st item belongs to the
absolute possession of the 1st petitioner and 2nd item is belongs to the possession of the 2nd
petitioner.
7. The respondents states that it is not true that the petitioners/plaintiffs were given patta by the
Government based on their possession and enjoyment, the respondents were also equally denied
that the suit filed in O.S.No.901 of 1994 against the 3rd parties, since the respondents were no
knowledge about the filing of the suit in O.S.No.901 of 1994, since the respondents were not parties
to the said suit.
8. The respondents also states that the Survey Numbers and the boundaries given in the suit
LAW FINDER
Submitted By: Venkatraman J
PDF downloaded from the online archives of Chawla Publications(P) Ltd.
schedule of property are not correct, since the suit property is mentioned in the Adangal as empty
garden and it is also classified under Natham Land Revenue System. The respondents also states
that the suit schedule of properties were not registered in the name of the petitioners/plaintiffs. The
properties in S.No.40/1 is a Natham Poramboke belongs to the Government, measuring about 1502
sq. mt. and the petitioners/plaintiffs were given thoraya patta S.No.40/3 to an extent of 178 sq. metre
and S.No.40/4 to an extent of 174 sq. metre, based on which the petitioners/plaintiffs does not have
any right to construct any building in the suit schedule of properties and the revenue authorities
would take steps to cancel the thoraya patta given in favour of the petitioners/plaintiffs, if
necessary. Since the Government have making arrangements to construct a building in the
gramanatham poramboke land belonging to them, which is next to the south of the suit schedule of
properties in the interest of the general public under education scheme, as a result of which the
said petition has been filed by the petitioners/plaintiffs. Therefore, the respondents are prayed the
trial Court to dismiss the Interlocutory Application filed by the petitioners/plaintiffs.
9. Considering both side arguments, the learned Principal District Munsif, Thirukoilur, by order
dated 07.09.2010 was pleased to allow the Interlocutory Application in I.A.No.45 of 2010 and grant
an order of injunction in favour of the petitioners/plaintiffs. The learned Judge passed an order
based on the order of the Judgment reported in 2010 (1) Law Weekly page 123, it has been held
that the Gramanatham cannot be considered, ipso facto, as Government property and once it is
found that the suit schedule of property is classified as Gramanatham, it should be held that it does
not belongs to Government. The learned Judge also states that except Exs.P1 and P2, the petitioners
were not produced any other documents, but on perusal of the records, it is seen that the suit
properties are vacant house site and therefore, it is seen that as per Ex.R1 the land 'Natham' has
been recommended for transfer in S.No.40/1 (after subdivision in S.No.41/19) to the Education
Department for the purpose of construction of building. But, it does not stated in Ex.R1 that the
lands in R.S.No.40/1 (now sub-divided as 40/3 and 40/4) has to be transferred to the Education
Department for the purpose of construction of building. Moreover, S.No.40/1 has been sub-divided as
40/19 as per Ex.R1 and it is not meant for the petitioners/plaintiffs land comprised in S.No.40/3 and
40/4 (Old R.S.No.40/1). Thus, it is evident that even though the respondents/defendants has right to
construct a building for the purpose of Education Department, it is restricted to 00320 sq. mt. in
R.S.No.40/19 as per Ex.R1.
10. The learned Judge also states that the respondents have not produced any documents to show
that whether the land actually vest either with the Government or the Town Panchayat in respect
of classification of land as Gramanatham. It is not the communal property in the sense in which
thrashing floor or burning grounds or other property is communal. The Gramanatham land if
unoccupied is assigned from from time to time by the proprietor whether it is an Zamindariaroa or
in an inam area. Therefore, considering all these facts, the learned Principal District Munsif,
Thirukoilur, allowed the I.A.No.45 of 2010.
11. Challenging the order passed in I.A.No.45 of 2010, the 2nd respondent Village Panchayat
President has filed an Appeal in CMA.No.8 of 2010 before the learned 1st Additional Subordinate
Judge, Villupuram, on the ground that when the Tamilnadu Land Encroachment Act, 1905, was
enacted Gramanatham (House site) is exempted from Government property under Section 2(e) of
the Act, in respect of this Court, considering the same, from the year 1949 to 2010 continuously and
concurrently prohibited the Government from interfering in the house site. The house site belongs
to the individuals who had occupied it, neither the Government can issue patta nor cancel it
because it is not the property of the Government.
LAW FINDER
Submitted By: Venkatraman J
PDF downloaded from the online archives of Chawla Publications(P) Ltd.
12. The 2nd respondent/appellant also raising ground by saying that the property in question is the
Education Department is making construction in the property to an extent of 320 sq. mt. in
S.No.40/19, which is nothing to do with S.No.40/3, 40/4 alleged as properties of petitioners. Therefore,
they prayed the First Appellate Court viz., the learned First Additional Subordinate Judge,
Villupuram, to allow the said Civil Miscellaneous Appeal and set aside the order passed in I.A.No.45
of 2010 in O.S.No.10 of 2010, dated 07.09.2010.
13. Considering both side cases, the learned First Additional Subordinate Judge, Villupuram, allowed
the said CMA.No.8 of 2010, by setting aside the order passed in I.A.No.45 of 2010 in O.S.No.10 of 2010,
dated 07.09.2010 by the learned Principal District Munsif, Thirukoilur, granting injunction in favour
of this petitioners/plaintiffs, on the ground that the Survey Number, which has been given by the
petitioners/plaintiffs in the suit schedule of property as S.No.40/3 and S.No.40/4 is no way connected
with the suit property. But the Education Department is making construction in S.No.40/19, which is
clearly proved through Ex.R1, which is filed by the respondent/appellant.
14. The learned Judge also states that without any legal basis, the learned Principal District Munsif,
Tirukoilur, was pleased to allow the application in I.A.No.45 of 2010 for granting injunction, since
the petitioners/plaintiffs have not shown prima facie case and possession over in S.No.40/19 to an
extent of 0.320 sq. mt. Challenging the order in CMA.No.8 of 2010, dated 22.03.2011, the present Civil
Revision Petition has been filed by the petitioner/plaintiff.
15. I heard Mr.N.Suresh, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and there is no
representation on behalf of the respondents and perused the entire records.
16. It is the case of the petitioners/plaintiffs is that the suit schedule of property in R.S.No.40/1, sub
divided as 40/3 and 40/4 is classified in the revenue records as Gramanatham.
17. As per the Gramanatham, the first occupier of the land is the owner of the land and it was
classified only for house sites and the said village Gramanatham lands were never vested with the
Government or the town Panchayat and the Government have no right over the Gramanatham
property. Therefore, the petitioners/plaintiffs are the first occupier of the property, they were in
absolute possession and enjoyment of the same. To recognise their possession of the said suit
schedule of property, the 3rd respondent/Tahsildar has also issued patta on 25.05.1990 itself and
recognise their continuous occupation and possession and enjoyment of the suit schedule of
property. Therefore, it is evident that the petitioners/plaintiffs have been in possession and
enjoyment of the suit schedule of property right from the year 1990.
18. Per contra, the respondents, particularly the 2nd respondent Village Panchayat has filed an
appeal before the learned First Additional Subordinate Judge, Villupuram, by stating that as per
Ex.R1, the land in Survey number in R.S.No.40/19 to an extent of 0.320 sq. mt. was allotted for
constructing the building for the purpose of Education Department, except the said document, there
is no other documents filed by the 2nd respondent Village Panchayat.
19. Apart from this, there was no representation for the 2nd respondent/Village Panchayat to make
arguments for supporting their case. In fact, when the matter has been taken up for admission on
23.12.2011, this Court grant an order of the interim injunction in favour of the petitioners/plaintiffs
and the order is follows:
"Notice regarding admission returnable in three weeks. Private notice is also permitted.
2. It is represented by the learned counsel for the petitioner that he had the benefit of
LAW FINDER
Submitted By: Venkatraman J
PDF downloaded from the online archives of Chawla Publications(P) Ltd.
around the suit properties. It is very unfortunate that to prove that the plaintiff was not in
possession of the suit properties no documentary proof in the nature of revenue records or
registers have not been produced by the defendants. Even the fasalis mentioned by D.W.1
relates to the period after filing of the suit. D.W.2 in his evidence admits that 36 cents is in
possession of the plaintiff."
(5) In the case of M.S.Krishnan (Died) and 26 others v. Government of Tamil Nadu rep.
by the District Collector Salem. 2. The Revenue Divisional Officer, O/O, the Revenue
Divisional Office, Salem. 3. The Tahsildar, Taluk Office, Fort Main Road, Salem. 4.
Arulmigu Sri Mariamman Koil Devasthanam rep. by the President Secretary and
Treasurer of the Trustees reported in 2001-2-L.W. 723 , in para-6 as follows:
"6. The learned counsel for the appellant very vehemently and strenuously contended that the
provisions of the Land Encroachment Act 1905 (hereinafter called as the Act'), cannot at all be
invoked in respect of the land in question. According to him, Section 2 of the Act exempts the
applicability of the Act to 'Temple sites' or house sites or backyards etc. He would further
contend that even if the property was to be considered as Grama Natham, the plaintiffs were
entitled to continue in possession and no action could be taken to remove them under Land
Encroachment Act. For this proposition, strong reliance is placed on the judgment of
E.Padmanabhan, J. in (1998) 3 L.W.603 (Thillaivanam and another v. the District
Collector, Chengai Anna Dist. At Kanchipuram and others) in respect of his contention
that provisions of the land encroachment Act cannot be invoked in respect of Grama Natham."
23. Per contra, the respondent/appellant produced the following judgments before the learned First
Additional Subordinate Judge, Villupuram as follows:
"In the case of Syed Abdul Jabbar v. 1. The Executive Officer, Selection Grade Town
Panchayat, Denkanikottai, Dharmapuri District and two others reported in 2010 (3)
TLNJ 643 (Civil)
Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act 1958, Section 170 suit for recovery of possession Grama Natham
land from Government - decreed and the first appellate Court reversed the decree - on further
appeal High Court held that 'Grama Natham' is ground set apart for houses in village - further
held that unless the same not assigned occupier has no right payment of house tax or
professional tax would not confer any ownership - judgment of first appellate court confirmed -
Second appeal dismissed."
24. Considering all the case cited supra, when the petitioners/plaintiffs was issued patta by the 3rd
respondent/Tahsildar on 25.05.1990 by recognising their continuous possession and enjoyment of the
property, the order of the learned First Appellate Judge by setting aside the order in I.A.No.45 of
2010 by stating the petitioner is not in possession of the property is totally wrong. The trial Court
himself has allowing I.A.No.45 of 2010 in O.S.No.10 of 2010 dated 07.09.2010, by considering the
petitioners possession, this Court finds that the petitioners/plaintiffs is in absolute possession and
enjoyment of the suit schedule of property. Hence, this Court warranting necessity for the
interference in the order passed in C.M.A.No.8 of 2010, dated 22.03.2011, on the file of the learned
First Additional Subordinate Judge, Villupuram, accordingly the same is liable to be set aside.
25. In the result:
(a) this Civil Revision Petition is allowed by setting aside the order passed in CMA.No.8 of 2010,
dated 22.03.2011, on the file of the learned Additional Subordinate Judge, Villupuram, and the
LAW FINDER
Submitted By: Venkatraman J
PDF downloaded from the online archives of Chawla Publications(P) Ltd.
order in I.A.No.45 of 2010 in O.S.No.10 of 2010, dated 07.09.2010, on the file of the learned
Principal District Munsif, Thirukoilur, is restored and the injunction is granted till the disposal
of the suit.
(b) the learned Principal District Munsif Court, Tirukoilur, is directed to take up the suit on
day to day basis, without giving any adjournment to either parties and to dispose the suit
within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Both the
parties are hereby directed to give their fullest cooperation for early disposal of the suit. No
costs.
.