Move Housing Department for land reconveyance

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed a batch of writ petitioners to approach the Housing and Urban Development department for re-conveyance of their land at various villages of Tiruvallur district, acquired between 1998-2003.According to petitioners’ counsel P Chandrasekaran, the land acquisition proceedings were originally quashed by a single judge, but, however, there was a modification of the said order in the writ appeal. Thereafter, petitioners approached the authorities concerned for re-conveyance of the lands expressing their grievances. However, the same was not considered by the authorities and hence, they had approached this court by filing the present writ petitions.Disposing of the petitions, Justice K Venkataraman said that the petitioners had not sent any individual representations to the Housing and Urban Development department for re-conveying their lands. Only the ‘All Villages Agriculturists and Farmers Welfare Association’ had sent a representation. Hence, the petitioners were directed to send individual representations to the department seeking re-conveyance of the lands within two weeks. On receipt of the same, the department should consider them on merits and in accordance with law within eight weeks thereafter. Till such time, the possession of the lands, if was with the petitioners, should not be disturbed by the authorities concerned, the judge said.