Adidravidar residents of Kottayur led by the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front staged a protest in Anchetty on Monday demanding pattas for the land “distributed” to them 40 years ago. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Over 1.76 acres of land acquired and distributed to Adidravidars and later dispossessed by the court is at the centre of the protests at Kottayur village in Anchetty here.The protests forefronted by the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front is questioning what it alleges as act of omission by the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department over a 1986 land acquisition that was later rendered null and void by the court.In 1985, an award was passed for 1.76 acres of private land for redistribution among 40 Adidravidar families in Kottayur village. However, in 1986, an heir of the land in question filed a petition contesting the award on the grounds of procedural lapses. “A writ was filed and it was held that proper procedures were not followed and the court nullified the land acquisition,” says Chinnasamy, the special tahsildar, Social Justice Department (formerly Adidravidar and Tribal Welfare Department).According to Prakash, district secretary, All India Kisan Sabha, in 2001, the court declared the process null and void, because the land owner was not notified of the acquisition.
However, the court granted time to the State government to reply and to initiate fresh proceedings “The Adidravidar Welfare Department first failed to even issue a counter petition in 1986, and later the State Government failed to file a reply within the eight weeks time granted by the court”.The Department did not implement the order, says Prakash, who is helming the struggle by the affected Adidravidar families.In 2018, the original petitioner filed a petition demanding the land be restored to them and approached the High Court. In 2023, a contempt was filed by the petitioner.
The High Court ruled in favour of the petitioner holding the authorities in contempt.The land itself is recorded as Adidravidar Natham colony in the AR registry of the revenue records. In the interim, seven families have built homes on the land, and 33 families are demanding they be given pattas.
In September 2024, the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front secured an assurance from the Adidravidar Welfare Department that they will pursue the case.However, according to the Special Tahsildar, there is an alternate site that has been identified but the Adidravidar families were refusing the offer. On the details of the case, Mr.
Chinnasamy said, he was not aware and the file needed to be looked into.“The land identified is a porampoke land on the fringe with no road facilities and outside of the village, but the current land is inside the village. Further, the current land value has gone up to ₹1.50 crore, while they bought it at ₹7,000 in 1986.“The Adidravidar Welfare Department failed to act from 1986 to 2001; they also failed to act on the 2001 order.
How is that the affected families’ fault?,” asks Mr. Prakash.
Published - November 02, 2026 09:29 pm IST