Prelude:

A piece of land admeasuring 3000 square yards situated at Road No.3, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, is the subject matter of dispute in this Writ Petition. While the petitioner claims to be the owner and possessor of the said land, which is hereinafter referred to as “the property”, the respondents claim the same as escheat and bona vacantia under the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Escheats and Bona Vacantia Act, 1974 (for short “the Act”) and possession thereof was taken after following due procedure.

The background facts:

The petitioner has purchased the property admeasuring 3000 square yards, forming part of plot No.8D under registered sale deeds from one Smt.Ameena Begum, widow of Mr.M.A.Razack, and M/s. Mohd.Abdul Aziz, Mohd.Abdul Rasheed and Mohd. Abdul Quddus, sons of late M.A.Razack. The property is stated to bear Municipal Nos.8-2-272/54/A, 8-2-272/57/1, 8-2-272/57/2 and 8-2-272/57/3, comprised in Survey No.504 New (Survey No.129 Old) and situated at Road No.3, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. The petitioner has traced title to this property, which was stated to originally belong to H.E.H. the Nizam and granted to Sri Khaja Mohiuddin Ansari. The petitioner also n