G.O.(Ms) No.85, Lease, Thoothukudi District, Tiruchendur Taluk, Punnakayal, Sernthamangalam and Kayalpattinam Villages, Resumption of Land

What this government order does

The Revenue Department, Land Disposal Wing, Government of Tamil Nadu, in G.O.(Ms) No.85 dated 31.03.2017, deals with Government land that had been leased to M/s. Dharangadhra Chemicals Works Limited in Tiruchendur Taluk, Thoothukudi District. It rejects the company's request for assignment of the land, orders recovery of lease arrears from 1989 onwards with 12% interest, and directs the Government to resume 793.39 acres.

Land covered

The document refers to Government land in these villages of Tiruchendur Taluk, Thoothukudi District:

• Punnakayal
• Sernthamangalam
• Kayalpattinam North
• Authoor Cusba

The abstract and final direction specifically mention resumption of 793.39 acres in Punnakayal, Sernthamangalam and Kayalpattinam Villages.

Background recorded in the file

The Government states that the land was originally leased to M/s. Dharangadhra Chemicals Works Limited under G.O.Ms.No.76, Revenue Department, dated 07.01.1959, for thirty years commencing from 1963, subject to usual conditions. One specific condition recorded in the file was that the company had to purchase all the lands either during the lease period or within six months from the date of expiry of the lease.

The file also records that:

• 793.39 acres were actually handed over.
• The company remitted land cost on 29.03.1989.
• The company later sought assignment of the land.
• The company did not remit lease amount beyond 1989.
• The company did not apply for renewal after 1993.
• The District Collector reported that the company had not applied for assignment before completion of the lease period.

Why the Government refused assignment

The Revenue Department, Land Disposal Wing, Government of Tamil Nadu accepted the reports of the District Collector, Thoothukudi and the Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Land Administration. The reasons recorded include:

• the company did not act within the time required to get assignment
• the company did not renew the lease after 1993
• lease arrears remained unpaid after 1989
• payment of land cost without Government orders fixing the land value was not accepted
• the company therefore had no right to claim assignment of Government land

Who this affects

This document directly affects M/s. Dharangadhra Chemicals Works Limited and the revenue authorities handling the land. For buyers, owners and professionals, it shows that the Government treated this land as resumed Government land and refused private assignment to the lessee company.