Revenue Courts, Reduce the Long Pending Cases, Instructions Issued (I1 11512 15 5 4 16)
The Office of the Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Land Reforms issued Ref.No. I1/11512/2015 (L.Ref), dated 5 April 2016, directing all Special Deputy Collectors (Revenue Court) to expedite Revenue Court cases pending for more than five years. The letter requires disposal within six weeks and a completion report through the Revenue Court Website on or before 20 May 2016.
Purpose
Ref.No. I1/11512/2015 (L.Ref), dated 5 April 2016, is an administrative instruction from the Office of the Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Land Reforms to all Special Deputy Collectors (Revenue Court). It seeks faster hearing and disposal of Revenue Court cases that had remained pending for more than five years.
The instruction followed information from the Special Government Pleader (HR and CE), High Court, Chennai. According to the letter, the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court granted six weeks to clear the long pending cases when W.P.No.11412 and 11413 of 2015 came up for hearing on 28 March 2016.
Who it affects
Ref.No. I1/11512/2015 (L.Ref) directly applies to all Special Deputy Collectors functioning as Revenue Courts. It is also relevant to parties involved in Revenue Court cases that had been pending for more than five years, including cases connected with the HR and CE Department and other cases on the pending list.
The letter does not announce a change to land ownership, ceiling requirements or property transfer procedures. Its focus is the administrative disposal of identified pending Revenue Court proceedings.
Key instructions
Ref.No. I1/11512/2015 (L.Ref) gives the following directions:
- List the long pending cases after reconciliation with the HR and CE Department.
- Post cases involving the HR and CE Department, as well as other pending cases, for early hearing and disposal.
- Take speedy steps to dispose of cases pending for more than five years within six weeks.
- Send a completion report on or before 20 May 2016.
- Update progress on the Revenue Court Website. The letter states that only the report submitted through the website will be accepted.
The Office of the Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Land Reforms had already sent Revenue Court wise and year wise details of 829 pending cases through its letter dated 1 April 2016. That earlier communication had instructed officials to dispose of those cases before 31 May 2016.
Relevance to property owners and buyers
Ref.No. I1/11512/2015 (L.Ref) may matter where a property owner, buyer or institution is a party to one of the identified long pending Revenue Court cases. The document itself does not provide individual case outcomes, so the relevant case record or Revenue Court Website update would be needed to determine whether a particular proceeding was disposed of.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
Does this letter change land ceiling or ownership rules?
No change to land ceiling or ownership rules is stated. The letter directs Revenue Court officials to expedite cases pending for more than five years.
Which Revenue Court cases were covered?
The direction covered long pending Revenue Court cases that were more than five years old. The earlier office letter had identified 829 pending cases Revenue Court wise and year wise.
What deadline was given to Revenue Court officials?
Officials were directed to dispose of the long pending cases within six weeks and submit a completion report on or before 20 May 2016.
How was the completion report required to be submitted?
Progress had to be updated on the Revenue Court Website. The letter states that only the report submitted through the website would be accepted.
