Official guidance, Tamil Nadu land law
Circular on Scrutiny of Development Proposals
The Town and Country Planning Department's unnumbered Circular dated 19 September 2013, issued by A. Karthik, Commissioner of Town and Country Planning, instructs planning officials to verify the ownership and dimensions of access roads when scrutinising development proposals. It requires supporting statutory or revenue records and says that yellow road markings in a Detailed Development Plan, or a local body's statement that it maintains a road, do not by themselves prove public ownership.
What the circular governs
The Town and Country Planning Department's unnumbered Circular dated 19 September 2013 governs scrutiny of access to an individual development site or a proposed layout. It directs planning officials to establish the ownership of an access road precisely through valid documents before accepting it as proper access.
The instructions were sent to all Regional Deputy Directors and Member Secretaries of Local Planning Authorities and New Town Development Authorities. They matter to owners, developers and buyers where a development proposal relies on an existing road for access.
Proof required for access roads
The Circular dated 19 September 2013 permits or requires the following evidence, depending on the type of road:
- If an approved layout copy is unavailable, a copy of the Panchayat Road Register may be accepted when it is approved by the relevant Block Development Officer.
- A similar approach may be used for other public roads where ownership of the public access road cannot otherwise be established.
- For Highways Department roads, the department's certificate must identify the road category, such as O.D.R., M.D.R., S.H. or N.H., and provide details including road width and the nature of the riding surface.
- Public road ownership and measurements may be proved through revenue documents, including FMB sketches, A Register, Adangal, TSLR and town survey sketches, as applicable.
- A local body certificate stating only that it maintains a road is not acceptable if it does not address ownership.
Detailed Development Plans and unauthorised layouts
The Town and Country Planning Department states that a road shown in yellow in a Detailed Development Plan must not automatically be treated as a public road. Statutory records must establish that status.
For roads marked yellow in Detailed Development Plan Schedule I, officials must check Form 4 attached to the relevant plan and confirm current ownership from prevailing revenue records.
When Map No. 2 is prepared, unauthorised layouts must be identified clearly. Roads within those layouts must not be coloured yellow or linked to approved layouts.
Master Plan discrepancies and commencement
The Circular dated 19 September 2013 reiterates that, where the Schedule and proposed land use map in a Master Plan conflict, the Schedule attached to the Master Plan report prevails. The access road verification instructions took effect immediately.
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 a yellow road marking in a Detailed Development Plan prove that the road is public?
No. Public ownership must be established through statutory records. Officials must also check Schedule I, Form 4 and current revenue records.
Is a certificate saying that a local body maintains the road enough?
No. A certificate that mentions maintenance but says nothing about ownership must not be accepted.
What records can prove the ownership and measurements of a public access road?
The records may include FMB sketches, A Register, Adangal, TSLR and town survey sketches, depending on the case.
What happens if a Master Plan Schedule conflicts with its proposed land use map?
The Schedule attached to the Master Plan report prevails.
