Tamil Nadu Govt Transfers Tahsildar After Order to Collect CPI, CPM Members' Details Sparks Protest

Chennai: A Tahsildar in Gujiliamparai in Dindigul district has issued a controversial order directing officials to collect details of communist party members in all villages under the taluk. The controversial order by Tahsildar Ayyasamy instructed officials to urgently collect and submit the names and addresses of members of the CPI and CPM from all villages under the Gujiliamparai taluk.

The directive was issued to deputy Tahsildars, zonal sub-Tahsildars and revenue inspectors. It also warned that village assistants who failed to submit the report would face strict disciplinary action.

Following the incident, Dindigul MP and CPI(M) leader R Sachithanantham criticised the Revenue Department and the Tahsildar after sharing a copy of the official order on his Facebook page. He also demanded the immediate removal of Tahsildar Ayyasamy, who issued the order. While questioning the Tahsildar's authority to issue such a circular, he questioned whether he had similarly issued circulars to compile lists of sand smugglers, encroachers or criminals in the Taluk.

Sachithanantham said that even when the British-era Fingerprint Act was in force or during periods when political organisations were banned, no Tahsildar had issued such an anti-democratic circular.

He urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay and Revenue Minister K A Sengottaiyan to take immediate action in the matter. Meanwhile, criticism arose from various sections questioning the authority under which the Tahsildar issued the circular and seeking information on members of two national political parties.

Following demands from the CPI and CPI(M), the TVK government issued a transfer order for the Tahsildar within hours.