MADURAI: Based on the submission of the Tamil Nadu government, the Madras High Court bench here has directed all the District Revenue Officers (DRO) to dispose of applications seeking issuance of Legal Heirship Certificate, within a maximum time of four weeks.
The undertaking was given during the hearing of a petition filed by a Nagercoil resident seeking legal heir certificate. The petitioner, Johnson, said his father had died in 1979. He applied for the ‘Legal Heirship Certificate’. However, the Kalkulam Tahsildar rejected his application in February, on the ground that the application has been filed belatedly.
Citing a circular issued by the Special Commissioner and Secretary, dated November 28, 1991, the petitioner contended that there is no limitation for submitting applications for getting the Legal Heirship Certificate. He contended that the Tahsildar cannot shirk his responsibilities by simply directing the parties to approach the court for getting the certificates.
Additional Advocate General (AAG) K Chellapandian, appearing for the District Revenue Officers (DRO) of Madurai, Dindigul, Virudhunagar and Sivaganga, submitted that henceforth the DROs would give written instructions to all Tahsildars and other Revenue Officers, viz., the Revenue Inspectors and Village Administrative Officers (VAOs), to dispose of the applications seeking issuance of Legal Heirship Certificate, within a maximum time of four weeks.
Further, in deserving cases, the officers would be directed to issue the same at the earliest possible time, preferably within a week, the AAG submitted.
The AAG also pleaded the court to all those who petitioned the court may be asked to make a fresh application to the Tahsildar concerned along with necessary documents for expeditious issuance of the Legal Heirship Certificate.
Recording this, Justice T S Sivagnanam directed all Tahsildars to take note of the circular issued in 1991 and issue the certificate within four weeks.
The judge also directed the DROs to issue suitable written instructions to all Tahsildars in this regard. He also directed the Additional Advocate Generalto forward a copy of the court order to all the District Revenue Officers for |adherence.