Tamil Nadu Ends Unilateral Blocking of Ryotwari Land Registrations; High-Powered Panel to Safeguard Lawful Pattas

The Tamil Nadu government has taken a decisive step to end the practice of unilateral blocking of ryotwari land registrations by the Registration Department, a move expected to bring clarity and fairness to landowners across the state. Previously, officials from various departments, including the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, could request blocks on registrations based on pre-UDR records or the inam fair register. These blocks often prevented rightful landowners from registering their ryotwari patta lands.

To resolve these issues effectively, the state has constituted a high-powered seven-member committee headed by the Chief Secretary. The other members include the Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, the Secretary of the department requesting the block or unblock, the Commissioner of Land Administration, the Inspector-General of Registration, the Director of Survey and Settlement, and the Secretary of the Law Department. Henceforth, all requests for blocking or unblocking registrations, including modifications in the Tamil Nilam online records, must be placed before this committee for deliberation.

This initiative comes after repeated concerns raised over instances where HR&CE officials had appealed to the Revenue Department to cancel pattas in individuals’ names, claiming the lands belonged to temples under historical records. Such unilateral actions were found to nullify pattas legally granted under Sections 8(2)(i)(b) and 8(2)(ii) of the Tamil Nadu Minor Inams (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1963.

The formation of the committee ensures a transparent and structured approach to resolving disputes, protecting lawful land ownership, and streamlining registration processes. Landowners will no longer face arbitrary blocks, and departments can raise concerns through a formal, accountable system.

With this move, Tamil Nadu is reinforcing property rights while maintaining checks and balances for historical claims. It provides a much-needed safeguard for ryotwari pattas and promises faster, fairer registration for individuals and organizations alike. The committee’s decisions are expected to set a benchmark for resolving land-related disputes statewide, ensuring that both historical claims and current legal rights are respected.