1. Heard learned Government Pleader for the petitioner and the learned Counsel for respondent Nos.2 to 5.

2. This is the story of a tank killed by the system. An avaricious person claimed it as his own. The then Tahsildar assented by non contest. The Settlement Officer, notorious for his misdeeds granted patta to the person. The Appellate Tribunal confirmed. The tank was thus killed and the killers brought it before this Court as saviours. The legal luminaries embalmed it. The story unfolds like this.

3. As per the affidavit filed by the petitioner, the land admeasuring Acs.12.20 cents situated in Survey No.2/2 of Kasiraopeta Village, Madanapalle Revenue Mandal, Chittoor District, was registered in the revenue records as tank poramboke and after survey and settlement it was entered in the columns of SLR as Eguvacheruvu (Tank). The estate was notified, abolished and taken over by the Government on 26.07.1961. The third respondent filed an application before the Settlement Officer for grant of patta on 12.10.1961. The said application was dismissed and challenging the said order, the third respondent filed W.P.No.2376 of 1971, and this Court, by order dated 21.09.1973, directed