Across rural Tamil Nadu, thousands of families live on Grama Natham lands—village house-site plots occupied for generations but never formally titled.
The Tamil Nadu government allows residents to secure legal ownership through Natham Patta, even without a registered sale deed, by proving long-term possession with Electricity Board (EB) bills, Property Tax receipts, and a VAO residence certificate.
What Is Natham Land?
Natham or Grama Natham land refers to village house-site land originally earmarked for private residential use by local inhabitants.
It is not government reserve or poramboke land. However, since most of it predates formal registration systems, ownership details are often missing from official records.
The Tamil Nadu Village Natham Land Assignment Rules, 1992 permit qualified residents to apply for Natham Patta, if they can prove:
- Continuous occupation, and
- Residential use of the land.
Eligibility for Natham Patta
You can apply if:
- You have occupied and used the land for 10 years or more,
- It is used as your residential property, and
- It is not classified as government, temple, or OSR land.
Documents That Prove Possession
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| EB Bill / TNEB Service Record | Confirms continuous residential use |
| Property Tax Receipts | Shows regular tax payment for the house |
| Water Bill / Sewerage Receipt | Supplementary evidence of occupancy |
| VAO Certificate | Confirms presence and structure on site |
| Aadhaar / Ration Card | Corroborative residential proof |
Step-by-Step Process to Apply for Natham Patta
- Visit the VAO or Taluk Office – Obtain the Natham Patta form or apply via e-Sevai centre.
- Attach Supporting Proofs – EB card, tax receipts, Aadhaar, and VAO certificate.
- Site Verification – The VAO or surveyor visits to confirm occupation.
- Tahsildar Approval – If eligible, the Tahsildar issues the Patta.
- Receive Patta & Sketch – A Patta number and field measurement are issued.
⏱ Timeline: Typically 30–60 days depending on verification.
⚠️ When Natham Patta Cannot Be Issued
- Land falls under Poramboke / OSR / Temple / Government classification
- Commercial use of residential land
- Boundary or ownership disputes
- Encroachment on public property
🧭 When to Approach the District Collector
If your land has been wrongly classified—for example, as vacant Natham, poramboke, or government land—even though you have lived there for years, the regular Taluk-office route may not help.
As explained in the Verified.RealEstate community article “Key Issues and Solutions in Village Natham Lands”, you can submit a petition to the District Collector requesting re-classification and Patta issuance.
Attach strong proofs such as EB bills, tax receipts, and VAO certificates, and refer to G.O. No. K3/14710/2015 dated 07.08.2015, which empowers Collectors to correct mis-classified Natham lands after field inspection and revenue verification.
The Collector’s intervention is necessary only when land records need rectification—not for regular Patta applications.
🌐 Online Patta Application (Chennai & Urban Areas)
The Tamil Nadu government’s Patta-Chitta portal lets citizens check or apply for Patta online.
Steps:
- Go to https://eservices.tn.gov.in/eservicesnew/index.html.
- Choose “View Patta & FMB / Chitta / TSLR Extract.”
- Enter district, taluk, village, survey number, and subdivision.
- Submit to view your digital Patta extract.
- For new Pattas, download and submit the application with scanned EB bill, tax receipts, and ID proof.
⚠️ Note: First-time Patta issuance still requires manual verification by VAO and Tahsildar; the online service mainly helps with submission and tracking.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Consequence | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| No proof of residence | Rejection | Submit EB + Tax + VAO proof |
| Applying for non-residential / OSR land | Invalid | Verify classification first |
| Ignoring field verification | Delay | Follow up with VAO |
| Assuming online form = approval | Incomplete | Visit Taluk office for final step |
Verified.RealEstate Tools & Services
- 🧾 Patta & Land Ownership Verification Tool — Confirms if your survey number is truly Grama Natham and eligible for Patta.
- ⚖️ Patta Application Support — Expert help for preparing petitions, Collector submissions, and document verification.
Conclusion
A Natham Patta transforms long-held possession into legal ownership.
If your records are in order, apply through the VAO–Tahsildar route; but if your land is mis-classified, escalate it with a Collector petition under G.O. K3/14710/2015.
Always verify land classification before applying — and use EB bills and tax receipts to prove genuine occupation.
Disclaimer
This content is for information only and does not constitute legal advice. Patta eligibility and classification depend on district-level records. Always confirm your survey details with the Revenue Department or legal experts before filing. Verified.RealEstate is not responsible for individual filing outcomes.