WP(MD)/30760/2026 of Shoban Kumar R Vs The District Collector on 29 October 2026

ORDER

The first petitioner was married to one Dr.Rajapreethi. Upon her death, he applied for the Legal Heir Certificate. Seeking a direction for the re-issuance of such certificate by deleting the names of the fourth and fifth respondents therefrom, the present Writ Petition was filed.

2. Mr.P.Pethu Rajesh, learned Additional Government Pleader, accepts notice for the first to third respondents. Mr.R.Ganesh Prabhu, learned counsel, accepts notice for the fourth and fifth respondents. __________

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WP(MD) No. 30760 of 2026

3. Placing reliance on G.O.(Ms) No.110, Revenue and Disaster Management, Revenue Administration Wing, RA-3(2) Section, dated 13.03.2024, learned Additional Government Pleader for the first to third respondents submits that said Government Order was issued pursuant to orders of this Court and specifies the persons whose names should be included in the Legal Heir Certificate, depending on whether the deceased person was married or unmarried. As regards a deceased married person, he points out that the names of the spouse, children and parents of the deceased are required to be specified. He also points out that the Government Order clearly records that the Legal Heir Certificate is only a relationship certificate and cannot be equated to a succession certificate issued by a Court.

4. In the Government Order cited by learned Additional Government Pleader, it is recorded in relevant part as under: “(i) This is only a relationship certificate, indicating the names of the persons and their relationship, with the deceased;

(ii) .....

(iii) This certificate cannot be equated to a succession certificate issued by a Court; __________

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(iv) The certificate issued by the Tahsildar does not affect the legal right of any party and has no bearing on the status of the legal heir which is conferred on an individual under his / her personal law;”

5. It should be noted that the Legal Heir Certificate is issued in terms of the above-cited Government Order and not under any statute. In view of the qualifications extracted above, the petitioners are not deprived of any rights under the Hindu Succession Act. Therefore, no case is made out to interfere with the Legal Heir Certificate issued earlier in terms of the Government Order.

6. Leaving it open to the petitioners to assert their rights under personal law in appropriate proceedings, this Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. 29-10-2026 (2/2) Index: No Speaking Neutral Citation: No JEN To

1. The District Collector, Madurai District. __________

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WP(MD) No. 30760 of 2026

2. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Thirumangalam, Madurai District.

3. The Tahsildar, Thirumangalam, Madurai. __________

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WP(MD) No. 30760 of 2026 SENTHILKUMAR RAMAMOORTHY, J. JEN WP(MD) No. 30760 of 2026 29-10-2026 (2/2) __________

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