HC notice to TN govt on PIL to quash order for issuing pattas

Madras High Court today issued notices to the Tamil Nadu government on a PIL, seeking to quash a Revenue Department's order to issue pattas to those residing in poramboke lands for more than three years.
The First Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Kumar Agrawal and Justice M Sathyanarayanan, acting on a PIL filed by one A P Srinivasan, issued notice to the Revenue Secretary, Revenue Commissioner and Collectors of Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts, returnable by Sept 30.
The government on May 23 this year had issued a G.O., fixing eligibility criteria of people residing in poromboke lands for more than three years.

The petitioner said the scheme was announced only for the welfare of poor people, but the G.O. Had not prescribed any norms to regulate water bodies and lands with water resources would not come under the scheme.
He challenged the G.O. On the ground that the government had failed to prescribe the kind of lands eligible to be issued pattas. He also alleged that politicians and other influential people were encroaching and occupying the lands under the guise of helping the poor in the scheme.
Sreenivasan further sought an interim prayer to stay all further proceedings pursuant to the order till sufficient regulations are prescribed to issue patta by segregating the lands.