( 1 ) THE petitioner is a registered society established with the object of reclaiming the forestland and put it to use for the benefit of Banjaras, Sugalis, Dalits and other persons belonging to weaker sections of the society. The society filed the writ petition seeking a writ of mandamus directing the respondents, namely, the Divisional Forest Officer, Guntur, Range Officer, Guntur Range, and Superintendent of Police, Guntur to issue one hectare of agricultural land in Venkatayapalem Forest Blocks I, II and III within the jurisdiction of Papayapalem forest section, Bellamkonda Mandal, Guntur District, to the members of the petitioner society.

( 2 ) THE writ petition came to be filed in the background of the following events. It appears, in 1991, Special Deputy Collector (Land Acquisition) and the first respondent herein along with other officials inspected the Forest Blocks I, II and III of Papayapalem forest section and allegedly recommended that 60 to 75% of the area can be de-reserved for cultivation in view of the soil conditions and fertility status. Accordingly, it is alleged, the Special Collector, Nagarjuna Sagar Project, submitted a report to the Governme