JUDGMENT :

V. Ramasubramanian, J.

1. The State has come up with the above appeal questioning an order of the learned Judge setting aside an order of the Joint Collector-cum-Settlement Officer with costs of Rs. 20,000/- and further directing the appellants to issue pattadar pass book to the writ petitioners (the respondents herein) under the Andhra Pradesh Rights in Land and Pattadar Pass Books Act, 1971.

2. Heard the learned Government Pleader for Revenue (Andhra Pradesh) and Mr. A. Chandraiah Naidu, learned counsel for the respondents.

3. The respondents herein filed a writ petition in W.P. No. 24980 of 2009 challenging the proceedings of the Joint Collector-cum-Settlement Officer, dated 04-8-2009, declaring the entire land in Survey No. 251 as a river and also directing the cancellation of all forged and fake entries in the Fair Adangal. The case of the writ petitioners was that the husband of the 1st respondent herein and the father of the respondents 2 and 3 by name Ramanaiah was granted Saswatha Patta by the then Mahant of Sri Hathiramji Mutt on 05-3-1943; that as such, Sri Ramanaiah became the owner of the land of an extent of Ac. 9.00 in Survey No. 251/1 in Vedanthapuram Village