Revenue authorities must refer disputed ownership claims to civil courts before altering patta entries.

The appellants challenged the District Revenue Officer’s order dated 17 July 2025, which, after an enquiry and finding a dispute over ownership of the land, directed the parties to approach a competent Civil Court.

The appellants argued that their application sought mutation of revenue records and should have been considered by the authorities.

The Single Judge dismissed their writ petition, and the appellants filed this writ appeal.

1. Whether the revenue authorities were required to consider the appellants’ application for mutation despite a dispute over ownership of the land

2. Whether the District Revenue Officer was justified in directing the parties to establish their rights before a competent Civil Court

Section 3(1) of the Tamil Nadu Patta Pass Book Act, 1983, provides for issuance of a patta pass book to an owner upon application.

Rule 4(4) of the Tamil Nadu Patta Pass Book Rules, 1987, requires the Tahsildar, where ownership is disputed and the interested parties do not agree in writing, to direct them to obtain an order on ownership from a competent Civil Court before changing existing revenue entries.

The Court held that an application under Section 3 is maintainable only by the owner and that disputes concerning ownership must be resolved by the competent Civil Court.

The District Revenue Officer had conducted a detailed enquiry, afforded the parties an opportunity to be heard, and found that competing claims of ownership existed.

Since resolving those claims would require adjudication of civil rights, the revenue authorities could not determine ownership through mutation proceedings.

The direction to approach the Civil Court was therefore consistent with Rule 4(4), and the Single Judge had correctly declined to interfere.

Finding no ground to interfere with the dismissal of the writ petition, the Court dismissed the writ appeal without costs.