Field bothie disputes on patta lands must be resolved by revenue authorities under the Field Bothies Act, 1959.

The Petitioner filed a writ of mandamus seeking directions against respondents 4 to 7 to remove encroachers allegedly damaging the Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP) water supply channel and Sluice No. 2 in Survey No. 276, Karumpalayam Village, Pollachi Taluk.

The Petitioner sought restoration of the channel to facilitate agricultural activities and groundwater recharge.

The Assistant Engineer, Aliyar Basin Sub-Division, filed a status report indicating that the dispute involved an earthen channel ("field bothie") situated on patta land, which had already been referred to the Revenue Authorities for survey and action.

1. Whether the Water Resources Department is the competent authority to resolve disputes regarding field bothies situated on private patta lands.

2. Whether the court should grant the requested mandamus for removal of encroachments in light of the pending administrative actions under the Field Bothies Act.

Field Bothies Act, 1959, which governs the management and dispute resolution of small irrigation channels (field bothies) on private lands.

The Revenue Authority, rather than the Water Resources Department, holds jurisdiction over boundary fixation and restoration within patta lands when dealing with earthen channels.

The Court analyzed the status report submitted by the Water Resources Department, which clarified that the contested site is a field bothie located within private patta land in Survey No. 276.

The Court observed that the Water Resources Department had no direct role in boundary fixation for such lands and had already fulfilled its duty by addressing the Tahsildar/Pollachi to resolve the matter under the Field Bothies Act, 1959.

Since the dispute was essentially a "field bothie dispute" to be resolved by Revenue Authorities, the Court reasoned that no further judicial adjudication was required on the merits of the encroachment claim at this stage.

The Court disposed of the writ petition, granting the Petitioner liberty to file a fresh complaint before the competent authority if any further grievances regarding water usage or channel alteration persist. No costs were awarded.