Residents of Bharathi Nagar in Podanur besieged the office of the assistant commissioner (AC), Urban Land Tax (ULT), after no action was taken to allot pattas to them. They said that they were living in the area for more than 40 years and officials despite a court order have not allotted them the pattas.
On Monday, more than 50 residents protested at the Urban Land Tax office from 10am till 5pm. AC of ULT, A Muniandi spoke to protesters after 5pm. Residents have threatened to boycott the election if the department fails to comply.
S Gunasekaran, a resident of Bharathi Nagar, said that about 4.51 acres of patta land was bought by three men and sold to various parties and 21 people were awarded pattas till 2005. Homeowners applied for approval and as per procedures constructed homes legally with all required documents. But in 1991, the ULT issued a notice to N Ramasamy, one of previous owners of the land, stating that the land needs to be handed over to the government.
T Stephen, a resident said, "As Ramasamy had outright sold his land in the 1970s and he did not respond to the petition. The then AC had issued an order stating the land was not a patta land, without informing the existing owners."
The issue was taken to the high court and the case was ruled in favour of the residents.
However, A Muniandi told protesters that as per instructions from senior officials' he could not take any action. "We have filed an appeal in the high court and the case is pending," he said. But when asked for proof of appeal or details of the petition filed in the court, he asked them to file an RTI to get the documents. "We have looked into all documents and have checked with the court officials. We are not aware of any such appeal ever being filed," said Gunasekar.
Police asked residents to meet the officials again after the election nominations are filed, as Munaniadi is the returning officer for Kavundampalayam constituency.
"We are just asking the officials to act as per the court order and squash the previous order, because we are worried that though we have won the case, they might use that older order against us in the future," said Stephen.
On Monday, more than 50 residents protested at the Urban Land Tax office from 10am till 5pm. AC of ULT, A Muniandi spoke to protesters after 5pm. Residents have threatened to boycott the election if the department fails to comply.
S Gunasekaran, a resident of Bharathi Nagar, said that about 4.51 acres of patta land was bought by three men and sold to various parties and 21 people were awarded pattas till 2005. Homeowners applied for approval and as per procedures constructed homes legally with all required documents. But in 1991, the ULT issued a notice to N Ramasamy, one of previous owners of the land, stating that the land needs to be handed over to the government.
T Stephen, a resident said, "As Ramasamy had outright sold his land in the 1970s and he did not respond to the petition. The then AC had issued an order stating the land was not a patta land, without informing the existing owners."
The issue was taken to the high court and the case was ruled in favour of the residents.
However, A Muniandi told protesters that as per instructions from senior officials' he could not take any action. "We have filed an appeal in the high court and the case is pending," he said. But when asked for proof of appeal or details of the petition filed in the court, he asked them to file an RTI to get the documents. "We have looked into all documents and have checked with the court officials. We are not aware of any such appeal ever being filed," said Gunasekar.
Police asked residents to meet the officials again after the election nominations are filed, as Munaniadi is the returning officer for Kavundampalayam constituency.
"We are just asking the officials to act as per the court order and squash the previous order, because we are worried that though we have won the case, they might use that older order against us in the future," said Stephen.