High Court · 2025

W.P.(MD)No.2869 of 2025BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 31.01.2025CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYANW.P.(MD)No.2869 of 2025Murugan... Petitioner/Vs./1. The Sub Registrar, Sub Registrar Office, Sankarankovil, Tenkasi District.2. Arulmigu Sankaranarayanasamy Temple, Represented By The Assistant Commissioner / Executive Officer, Sankarankovil, Tenkasi District.... RespondentsP RAYER : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records of the impugned Refusal Check Slip in Refusal Number RFL/ Sankarankovil/5/ 2025 dated 21.01.2025 issued by the 1st respondent and quash the same as illegal and consequently direct the 1st respondent to register the document submitted by the petitioner with regard to land comprised in Survey number 392/A1, now sub divided as Re Survey Number 392/2 measuring to an extent western side last 2 Acres 45 cents out of which 24 1/12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.2869 of 2025Acres 45 cents situated at Kalappakulam Village, Sankarankovil Panchayat Union, Tenkasi District within a time frame fixed by this Court.For Petitioner : Mr.R.J.KarthickFor Respondents: Mr.S.P.Maharajan Special Government PleaderORDERAccording to the petitioner, the property in Survey number 392/A1, now sub divided as Re Survey Number 392/2 measuring to an extent western side last 2 Acres 45 cents out of which 24 Acres 45 cents situated at Kalappakulam Village, Sankarankovil Panchayat Union, Tenkasi District belonged to one Govindan and the said lands were divided into several housing plots situated at Kalappakulam Village, Sankarankovil Taluk, Tenkasi District. After his demise, his legal heirs intended to sell the property to the petitioner and his wife and accordingly, the petitioner executed a sale deed dated 07.01.2025. However, the 1st respondent refused to accept the same citing the objections dated 09.02.2021 given by the 2nd respondent. Challenging the same, the petitioner has filed this Writ Petition.2/12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.2869 of 20252. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that patta proceedings had been initiated under Act 30 of 1963 and yotwari patta had been issued in favour of the predecessors of the petitioner in respect of the properties in question and that order has been reached finality, which has not been challenged. Ever since the date of patta, the predecessor in title enjoyed the properties in question and several transaction had also taken place. Now, by giving mere objection before the registering authority, the Temple cannot prevent the transaction. 3. The learned counsel appearing for the respondent temple would submit that the subject properties are service inams and patta has been granted only under Section 8(2)(ii) and 8(5) r/w Section 21 of Tamil Nadu Minor Inams (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1963 (hereinafter, referred to as 'Act 30 of 1963) and if the service is not rendered by the pattadharars, they do not have any right either to enjoy the lands or to alienate the same and the Temple can resume the lands at any time as per Section 41 of Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and 3/12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.2869 of 2025Charitable Endowments Act, 1959 (hereinafter, referred to as HR & CE Act'). That apart, Section 38 of Act 30 of 1963 also makes such transaction as void. Hence, he opposed this Writ Petition.4. Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record.5. It is not disputed by both sides that patta had been originally granted under Sections 8(2)(ii) and 8(5) r/w Section 21 of Act 30 of 1963. That order has been reached finality, which has not been challenged.6. It is relevant to extract Sections 8(2)(ii) and 8(5) of Act 30 of 1963, which read as follows:-“8.Grant of ryotwari Pattas:-(2)(ii)In the case of any other land, the institution or the individual rendering service shall, with effect on and from the appointed day, be entitled to a ryotwari patta in respect of that land.(5)In the case of a minor inam held immediately before the appointed day by an individual on condition of rendering 4/12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.2869 of 2025service to a religious, educational or charitable institution, the grant of ryotwari patta under sub-section (1) or (2) shall be subject to the provisions of section 21.”7. The above provisions make it clear that any patta granted under Section 8 of Act 30 of 1963 shall be subject to the provision of Section 21. 8. Section 21 of Act 30 of 1963 reads as follows:-“21. Service inams.(1)The provisions of this section shall apply in respect of any minor inam which was held immediately before the appointed day by an individual (hereinafter referred to in this section as the service-holder) on condition of rendering service to a religious, educational or charitable institution.(2)The service-holder shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), be bound to continue to render the service after the appointed day.(3)(i)Where a service-holder is entitled to a ryotwari patta under section 8 in respect of any land, he shall have the option -(a)either to pay to the religious institution the amount specified in subsection (4) and on such payment the land shall, notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (7), be 5/12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.2869 of 2025discharged from the condition of the service; or(b)to hold the land and continue to render service subject to the provisions contained in sub-sections (1), (2), (6) and (7).(ii)The option referred to in clause (i) shall be twenty times the difference between the fair rent in respect of such land determined in accordance with the provisions contained in the Schedule and the land revenue due on such land.(5)Where the service-holder has exercised his option to pay the amount specified in sub-section (4), the tasdik allowance referred to in sub-section (6) in respect of the period subsequent to the date of the exercise of such option shall be the absolute property of the institution and the institution shall be at liberty to make such arrangements as it thinks fit for the performance of the service.(6)(a)For so long as the service-holder renders the service, the institution shall pay to the service-holder the tasdik allowance paid by the Government under section 20.(b)If the service-holder fails to render the service, the prescribed officer shall, after such inquiry and after such notice to the service-holder as may be prescribed in this behalf, notify such failure in such manner as may be prescribed. He shall then declare that the tasdik allowance payable to the institution in respect of the period subsequent to the failure shall be the absolute property of the institution and the institution shall be at liberty to make such arrangement as it thinks fit for the performance of the service.6/12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.2869 of 2025(7)(a)For so long as the service-holder renders the service, he shall be entitled to occupy permanently the lands in respect of which he is entitled to a patta under section 8, subject however, to the payment of the assessment fixed [under section 16 or under section 16-A, as the case may be] [Substituted for the expression 'under section 16' by section 13 of the Tamil Nadu Minor Inams (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Amendment Act, 1964 (Tamil Nadu Act 33 of 1964).], in respect of such lands.(b)If the service-holder fails to render the service, the prescribed officer shall, after such inquiry and after such notice to the service-holder as may be prescribed in this behalf, notify such failure in such manner as may be prescribed. He shall then declare that the service-holder's right to occupy permanently the land under clause (a) shall cease and determine, and the institution shall be at liberty to make such arrangement as it thinks fit for the performance of the service and shall be entitled to hold the land as its absolute property subject, however, to the payment of the assessment fixed therefor [under section 16 or under section 16-A, as the case may be] [Substituted for the expression 'under section 16' by section 13 of the Tamil Nadu Minor Inams (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Amendment Act, 1964 (Tamil Nadu Act 33 of 1964).].”9. The above Section makes it clear that when the ryotwari patta is granted under Section 8 in respect of any land, the pattadharar 7/12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.2869 of 2025will have option either to pay to the religious institution the amount specified in subsection (4) and on such payment the land shall, notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (7), be discharged from the condition of the service; or to hold the land and continue to render service subject to the provisions contained in sub-sections (1), (2), (6) and (7). However, such amount has not been specified while passing the order. 10. Be that as it may, Section 21 further makes it clear that as long as the service holders renders the service, the institution shall pay to the service-holder the tasdik allowance paid by the Government under section 20. However, if the pattadharar failed to render any service, then notice shall be issued to such pattadharars by the concerned authorities, then, order has to be passed to the effect that the properties are belonged to the institution. 11. Now, except issuing the objection letter to the authorities, no action has been taken under Section 21 either to resume the land or to declare that the service is not rendered by the concerned person. 8/12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.2869 of 2025Whether the service has been properly rendered or discontinued is a matter of fact, which has to be established in the manner known to law. Once it is established that there is no service, the Temple is entitled to resume the land and there is no difficulty at all. However, if it is established that service is continuing, the pattadharar is entitled to occupy the land permanently in respect of which patta has been granted. Without establishing these facts, merely by giving application before the authorities, the Temple cannot establish their right. No doubt, Section 41 of HR & CE Act, Section 38 of Act 30 of 1963 make the transfer of land as void.12. In such view of the matter, this Court is of the view that mere objection before the registering authorities itself is not sufficient to refuse the registration. Therefore, there shall be a direction to the 1st respondent to register the documents presented by the petitioner within a period of one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. It is for the temple to take appropriate action to resume the land or atleast to file a suit to recover the entire land, if the service is not properly rendered or discontinued. 9/12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.2869 of 202513. With the above observation and direction, this Writ Petition is allowed. No costs. 31.01.2025Index :Yes / No (1/2)NCC :Yes / NoSm10/12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.2869 of 2025TO:-1. The Sub Registrar, Sub Registrar Office, Sankarankovil, Tenkasi District.2. Arulmigu Sankaranarayanasamy Temple, Represented By The Assistant Commissioner / Executive Officer, Sankarankovil, Tenkasi District.11/12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD)No.2869 of 2025G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN , J. SmOrder made inW.P.(MD)No.2869 of 2025(1/2)Dated:31.01.202512/12