V.V.S. RAO, J :-Introduction and Background :

The petitioners in this batch of writ petitions are residents of different villages in either Khammam District or East Godavari District in State of Andhra Pradesh. Some Taluks/Mandals in these two districts are scheduled areas having been statutorily notified as such long back. All the petitioners do not belong to Scheduled Tribes (in this order they are referred to as non-tribals). They own agricultural lands in their villages. They allege that either they or their ancestors or predecessors-in-title purchased from other non-tribals under agreements of sale and other transfer documents. In some cases, they also claim that they were granted ryotwari patta under relevant law.

2. The jurisdictional Special Deputy Collector (Tribal Welfare) (SDC, for brevity) initiated action under Section 3(2) of Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Areas Land Transfer Regulation, 1959 (Regulation No.! of 1959), as amended by Regulation I of 1970 (the Regulation, for brevity). All the petitioners were ordered to be ejected from the respective lands and land in their o possession was directed to be restored to r the Government or persons belonging to t Scheduled