Madras HC pats govt for giving legal heir rejection explanation in 1,000 letters

Justice Anita Sumanth appreciated the state while disposing of a petition filed by Chinnappillai, a 75-year-old resident from Manaikkanpatti Colony, Vazhappadi Taluk, Salem district.

The petitioner prayed for a direction to the state revenue department to give a legal heir certificate to her as well as to disclose the proper reason or a speaking order for rejecting her legal heir application which was sought after the death of her son named Chinnappaiyan on September 26, 2021.

According to the petitioner, while rejecting her application, the government officials said it was done on the basis of the revenue inspector and headquarters deputy tahsildar’s report.

TNC Kaushik, Additional Government Pleader (AGP) submitted that as per the February 21 direction of the Madras High Court, the format for responding to the applications has been modified by the government through a GO. As per the new direction, the reason for rejection of a legal heir application can be explained up to 1,000 letters and the same was merely 100 earlier.

Earlier, the AGP had submitted that the format of the order as enclosed in the writ petition does not permit more than a limited number of words therein.