G.O. (Ms.) No. 356, Formation of Chinnasalem Taluk, 2012

What the order does

G.O. (Ms.) No. 356 of the Government of Tamil Nadu, Revenue Department creates Chinnasalem taluk to make taluk administration easier to reach and operate more effectively. The reorganisation divides villages from the existing Kallakurichi and Sankarapuram taluks.

The Government acted after considering recommendations from the Villupuram District Collector and the Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration.

Area covered by Chinnasalem taluk

The newly created Chinnasalem taluk has Chinnasalem as its headquarters. Its main administrative structure is:

• 85 revenue villages in total.
• 49 Village Administrative Officers.
• Four firkas, Chinnasalem, Nainarpalayam, Vadakkanandal and Vellimalai.
• 57 villages transferred from Kallakurichi taluk.
• 28 villages from the Kalvarayan Hills area of Sankarapuram taluk.
• A new firka with Vellimalai as its headquarters for the transferred Kalvarayan Hills villages.

Chinnasalem taluk remains within Kallakurichi revenue division. The Revenue Department found that a separate revenue division was not necessary.

Reorganisation of the existing taluks

After the formation of Chinnasalem taluk:

• Kallakurichi taluk has four firkas and 91 revenue villages.
• Sankarapuram taluk has six firkas and 150 revenue villages.
• Chinnasalem taluk has four firkas and 85 revenue villages.

The stated purpose includes reducing travel for residents of villages in the Vellimalai area. The source records that Chinnasalem has road, rail and other transport connections.

Administrative arrangements

The Revenue Department approved 49 posts for Chinnasalem taluk, comprising 39 general administration posts and 10 land survey posts. Of these, 14 posts are to be redeployed from Kallakurichi taluk and 35 are newly created.

The approved establishment includes the Tahsildar’s office, social security, election, taluk supply and land survey functions. The order also provides for an additional office assistant post for Kallakurichi taluk.

Who may be affected

Residents, landowners and professionals dealing with revenue administration in the 85 listed villages may need to use Chinnasalem taluk offices for matters handled by the Tahsildar, Village Administrative Officers and land survey staff. The detailed village allocation is contained in the order’s annexure.