JUDGMENT

This writ petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in proposing to allot/assign part of the Hindu burial ground/Smasanam land in Sy.No.153 of Pedakakani Village and Mandal, Guntur District, for the purpose of Christian Cemetery as arbitrary, illegal, without authority and jurisdiction, contrary to BSO 15 (4) and in violation of Article 21, 48A and 51A(g) of the Constitution of India including Public Interest and consequently to direct the respondents not to allot/assign any part of the Hindu burial ground/Samsanam land in Survey No.153 of Pedakakani Village and Mandal, Guntur District, for the purpose of Christian Cemetery or to any other purposes.

2. A counter-affidavit has been filed by the 5th respondent.

3. Heard Sri G. Peda Babu, learned counsel, representing Sri Ramachandra Rao Gurram, learned counsel for the petitioners on record, learned Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj, learned Government Pleader for Revenue and Sri I. Koti Reddy, learned Standing Counsel for 6th respondent.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners are agriculturists and abs