W.P.(MD)No.33141 of 2025 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 25.11.2025 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE Dr.JUSTICE ANITA SUMANTH AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN W.P.(MD)No.33141 of 2025 The Director (Finance) & Secretary, Seshasayee Paper & Boards Ltd., Ilanthakulam Village, Singamparai Post, Mukkudal Via, Tirunelveli District. ... Petitioner /Vs./ 1.The Commissioner of Land Administration, Ezhilagam Chepauk, Chennai - 5. 2.The District Collector, Tirunelveli. 3.The Tahsildar, Taluk Office, Cheranmahadevi, Tirunelveli District. ... Respondents PRAYER:- Writ Petition - filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a writ of mandamus directing the second and third respondents to send proposals to the first respondent to finalize the 1/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.33141 of 2025 request for exchange of land pending in letter No.F1/4239710/2023, dated 17.03.2023. For Petitioner : Mr.A.L.Somayaji, senior counsel for Mr.A.Srinivasan For Respondents : Mr.S.P.Maharajan, Special Government Pleader ORDER (Order of the Court was made by Dr.ANITA SUMANTH, J.) The petitioner is a public limited company, that had purchased a property at S.Nos.747, 752, 753, 757 to 769, 772 to 775, Ilanthaikulam Village, Tirunelveli District (land in question) for its business of manufacture of paper. We have heard Mr.A.L.Somayaji, learned senior for Mr.A.Srinivasan for the petitioner and Mr.S.P.Maharajan, learned Special Government Pleader for the respondents. 2. The above unit had originally been run by another entity that had been amalgamated with the petitioner in 2011. After purchase, it came to the knowledge of the petitioner that a mud road had been laid upon the patta land for use of the vehicles of the unit and for the general 2/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.33141 of 2025 public traversing between Ilanthaikulam Village and Velarkulam Village. 3. A query was raised by the Revenue Inspector with respect to the mud road, and an explanation was submitted by the petitioner to the effect, that though the road was seen reflected in the revenue records, it was not in fact, in use as a cart track. 4. Be that as it may, the petitioner claims to have voluntarily formed a 20 feet road on its patta land in lieu of the cart track and has made a proposal before the first respondent on 06.02.2023 seeking exchange for the land belonging to the petitioner, with the erstwhile mud road. 5. According to the petitioner, the proposal for exchange is beneficial to the State as in place of the mud road admeasuring 2.75 acres, the petitioner now offers a road admeasuring 3 acres. 6. R1 has forwarded the representations to R2 and R3 under proceedings dated 17.03.2023, seeking their responses. Inspection of the property has also been made. However, reports have not been sent for the reason that a portion of the cart track involving the land in S.No.779(2), Ariyanayagipuram, part-II Village, Tirunelveli Taluk and District, is the 3/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.33141 of 2025 subject matter of litigation in W.P.(MD)No.5817 of 2023. 7. That writ petition was instituted in public interest and the prayer therein was for a mandamus to remove the encroachment caused upon by the petitioner herein in S.No.779(2), Ariyanayagipuram, part-II Village, Tirunelveli Taluk and District. 8. W.P.(MD)No.5817 of 2023 has been dismissed today, recording the stand of the Government to the effect that there is no encroachment by the petitioner upon the land in S.No.779(2), Ariyanayagipuram, part-II Village, Tirunelveli Taluk and District per written instructions of Tahsildar, Cheranmahadevi, in Na.Ka.No.A2/1856/2023, dated 20.11.2025. According to learned Special Government Pleader, R2 and R3 were not in a position to provide the reports on account of the pendency of W.P.(MD)No.5817 of 2023. 9. In view of the fact that that writ petition has been dismissed today, no further fetter remains on R2 and R3 to respond to the Commissioner of Land Administration, Chennai / R1, to enable the latter to do the needful to consider the proposal of the petitioner for exchange of land. 4/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.33141 of 2025 10. Let the entirety of the exercise be completed within a period of twelve (12) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 11. This writ petition stands disposed. No costs. [A.S.M.J.,] & [C.K.J.,] 25.11.2025 NCC :Yes/No Index :Yes/No Internet :Yes mbi To 1.The Commissioner of Land Administration, Ezhilagam Chepauk, Chennai - 5. 2.The District Collector, Tirunelveli. 3.The Tahsildar, Taluk Office, Cheranmahadevi, Tirunelveli District. 5/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.33141 of 2025 Dr.ANITA SUMANTH, J. AND C.KUMARAPPAN, J. mbi Order made in W.P.(MD)No.33141 of 2025 Dated: 25.11.2025 6/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis