Mere occupation of Grama Natham land creates no right; encroachments remain subject to lawful eviction.

The petitioner sought a mandamus directing the official respondents to remove alleged encroachments by respondents 9–25 from specified survey fields in Sirulapakkam Revenue Village and restore the lands

The Tahsildar’s status report recorded that the fields included government lands classified as water bodies, cart tracks and other categories, and that certain encroachments had been identified.

It also reported that the FMB sketch for Grama Natham Survey No. 69 was illegible, preventing survey and measurement of that land.

Following inspection, Form-7 notices under the Tamil Nadu Land Encroachment Act, 1905, were issued to alleged encroachers on 3 October 2026.

The report further stated that the petitioner had encroached on 82 sq. metres of Survey No. 36, classified as a government poramboke water body, by erecting a wire fence; it stated that he refused service of the notice, which was then affixed at the site.

Whether the official respondents should be directed to remove the alleged encroachments from the specified government lands and restore them.

Whether appropriate action should be taken in respect of the Grama Natham lands in accordance with Revenue Standing Order No. 21.

The Court referred to the Tamil Nadu Land Encroachment Act, 1905, under which unauthorised occupation of government land may be addressed through the prescribed statutory procedure.

It stated that mere occupation of Grama Natham land does not confer a right on the occupant and that such occupants may be evicted by following the Act’s procedures.

It also observed that assignment of Natham land, if authorised by government policy, is to be made only to landless poor persons for construction of dwelling houses, and directed that action concerning Natham lands be taken under Revenue Standing Order No. 21 and the applicable procedures.

The Court noted that the revenue authorities had commenced enforcement action, identified alleged encroachments through inspection and survey, and issued Form-7 notices to the concerned persons.

Although the records for Survey No. 69 were insufficiently legible to permit survey and measurement, the Court directed further appropriate action rather than treating that limitation as a basis to leave the matter unresolved.

Given the reported encroachments and the requirement to follow statutory procedure, it ordered the official respondents to complete the necessary action, including in relation to Natham lands under RSO No. 21.

For Natham lands, the authorities were directed to initiate all appropriate action under Revenue Standing Order No. 21 and follow the prescribed procedures.

No costs were awarded, and the connected miscellaneous petition was closed.