Even after years of issuing the ‘Patta’ on the orders of the court, the officials say it was wrong

It is D. of Thanjavur district. There has been a long-standing battle to claim ownership of a piece of land in Kaliapumal. Even though the court has ordered in his favor, it is challenging for the farmers to occupy the land.

Although the ‘lease’ was issued eight years ago on the basis of two court orders, now revenue department officials have said that it was a mistake as the land is in a reservoir.

The case arose out of an appeal filed by Mr. Kaliaperumal of Ambalapattu in Orthanadu taluk before the Tamil Nadu Information Commission (TNIC). The petitioner contends that a civil court at Thanjavur had ordered the Collector and Tehsildar on March 3, 2008, to issue a ‘Patta’ to him. After receiving no response from the authorities, he filed a writ in the Madurai bench in Madras. High Court to execute orders of lower courts

On October 28, 2016, the court upheld his prayer after which the Tehsildar of Thanjavur granted a ‘lease’ to Mr. Kaliaperumal. However, his pleas requesting updating of ‘Chitta’ and ‘Adangal’ – revenue records were ignored. The petitioner filed an application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 for action on his petition as the land ownership process is completed only after the revenue records are updated. Dissatisfied with the responses of the Public Information Officer and the First Appellate Officer, he moved TNIC.

During the hearing, the Personal Assistant of the Collector (General) informed the Commission that the land on which the ‘lease’ was issued was located in the reservoir. Porombok the land Disciplinary action is being taken against the concerned Tehsildar who issued the ‘Patta’. The Collector directed an appeal against the order of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. But no appeal has yet been filed challenging the 2016 verdict.

After hearing both sides, the state’s Chief Information Commissioner Mohammad Shakeel Akhtar directed the authorities to investigate why no appeal has been filed even after eight years of the Madurai bench’s order. He wanted to know the names/designations of the officials responsible for not filing the appeal on time and to submit a report to the commission within 90 days.