P. Ravi vs The District Collector, The Tahsildar (Adi Dravida Welfare) Vellore District and K. Kudiarasan

K.B.K. Vasuki, J.—The learned Additional Government Pleader takes notice for the respondents 1 and 2.

On consent, this writ petition is taken up for final hearing, at the admission stage.

The relief sought for in this writ petition is for directing the first respondent/District Collector to dispose of the petitioner''s appeal dated

18.09.2000 as expeditiously as possible.

The appeal referred to in the writ petition is against the order passed by the second respondent/Tahsildar in his proceedings H/S.5/1403 dated

27.08.1993, in and under which, patta was issued in the name of one Kannian, who is the father of the third respondent herein, in respect of one

cent of land in Survey No. 49, Veppur Village, Katpadi Taluk, Vellore District, which is according to the petitioner stands in the name of his

mother by name Andalammal. According to the learned Counsel for the petitioner, while the patta in respect of three cents in the same survey

number stands in the name of his mother, the second respondent has without any notice and enquiry transferred the patta in respect of one cent

forming part of three cents in favour of the father of the third respondent. It is his further case that the petitioner has preferred an appeal on

18.09.2000 against the same before the first respondent/District Collector, who is according to the petitioner, the statutory appellate authority. The

attention of this Court is drawn to the fact that the statutory appellate authority is only Revenue Divisional Officer and not the District Collector. In

that event, the question of directing the first respondent/District Collector to dispose of the appeal does not arise herein and the petitioner is not

entitled to get any relief in this writ petition.

In the result, the petitioner is given the liberty to approach the appropriate authority for appropriate relief in respect of the patta issue within

within four weeks from the date of receipt of the copy of this order and the appropriate authority may consider and decide the petitioner''s claim, if

any on merits as per law after giving due notice and opportunity of personal hearing to the parties concerned within eight weeks, thereafter. With

this observation, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs.