The Tamil Nadu government has issued guidelines to District Collectors for issuing ‘pouthi pattas’ or succession pattas to legal heirs in cases where the pattadhars have deceased.

A communication from the Commissioner of Land Administration (CLA) with guidelines in this regard was issued last week.

Earlier, the ‘pouthi pattas’ were issued routinely during jamabandhis held in the State.

Over the years, there have been some issues in the issuance of ‘pouthi pattas’ and hence the office of the CLA has issued guidelines for authorities in this regard.

Applicants could submit their pleas through e-Seva centres.

In case legal heirs of the deceased pattadhars were applying for pattas, they were to produce death certificate (of the deceased pattadhar), legal heir certificate, death certificate (if one of the legal heir/s died too), encumbrance certificate, settlement, if any, and court order, if any.

For those applying for pattas after purchasing a property, they were to produce death certificate (of the deceased pattadhar), legal heir certificate, death certificate (if one of the legal heir/s died too), encumbrance certificate and registration documents of the property.

If the said property for which patta transfer was to be made, did not involve subdivision in a survey number, Village Administrative Officers would approve them and eventually Deputy Zonal Tahsildars would clear them.

If they involved subdivision in the survey numbers, surveyors would verify and approve them after which Tahsildars concerned would clear them, the communication said.