ANDHRA PRADESH HIGH COURT AT AMARAVATI
V.Sujatha, J.
Pogadadanda Ravi Kumar – Appellant
Versus
State of Andhra Pradesh – Respondent
Writ Petition No. 28733 of 2017
Decided On : 06-02-2023
REGISTRATION ACT, 1908 - SECTION 72 - ANDHRA PRADESH CHARITABLE, HINDU RELIGIOUS AND ENDOWMENTS ACT, 1987 - SECTION 80(1)(A) - REGISTRATION OF SALE DEED - PERMISSION FROM COMMISSIONER, ENDOWMENTS DEPARTMENT - JURISDICTION OF REGISTERING AUTHORITY - REVIEW POWERS - SUO-MOTO APPEAL AGAINST COMMISSIONER'S ORDERS - COURT'S DIRECTION TO REGISTER SUBJECT LAND BASED ON COMMISSIONER'S PERMISSION.
Fact of the Case:
A single trustee of a temple sought permission from the Commissioner, Endowments Department, to sell agricultural land in a public auction under Section 80(1)(a) of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable, Hindu Religious and Endowments Act, 1987. Permission was granted, and the land was sold to the highest bidder, who was the brother of the petitioner's mother. The petitioner's mother applied to register the sale deed, and the Commissioner granted permission. However, the registering authority refused to register the document, seeking clarification from the Assistant Commissioner of Endowments on various matters.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the registering authority had no jurisdiction to seek clarification or keep the document pending for registration. The Commissioner had already granted permission for the sale of the land and the registration of the sale deed in favor of the petitioner's mother. The court directed the registering authority to register the subject land based on the Commissioner's permission.
Issues: 1. Whether the registering authority had jurisdiction to seek clarification from the Assistant Commissioner of Endowments and keep the document pending for registration. 2. Whether the Commissioner's permission for the sale of the land and the registration of the sale deed was sufficient.
Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on the provisions of Section 80(1)(a) of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable, Hindu Religious and Endowments Act, 1987, which empowers the Commissioner to grant permission for the sale of temple lands. The court also noted that the Commissioner had already granted permission for the sale of the land and the registration of the sale deed in favor of the petitioner's mother. Therefore, the court held that the registering authority had no jurisdiction to seek clarification or keep the document pending for registration.
Final Decision: The court allowed the writ petition, set aside the original refusal order and the consequential order passed in the appeal, and directed the registering authority to register the subject land based on the Commissioner's permission.
JUDGMENT
1. This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief:-
"...to issue a Writ, Order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Certiorari quash the impugned Order dtd. 16/3/2017 in Appeal Petition No.8 of 2015 passed by the District Registrar and Appellate Authority, Ongole, Prakasam District, the 6th respondent herein, as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14, 21 and 300A of the Constitution of India apart from being violative of principles of natural justice, consequently direct the 8th respondent herein to admit/register the Sale Deed dtd. 4/6/2008, and deliver the same to the petitioners herein...".
2. The brief facts of the case are that the managing trustee of Sri Punugu Ramalingeswara Swamy temple, applied to the Commissioner i.e., 2nd respondent herein, seeking permission to sell away the agricultural lands of Ac.3-38 cents in Sy.No.159/1 of Pandellapalli Village, Pandellapalli Gram Panchayat, Chirala Sub Division, Prakasam District, in tender-cum public auction under Sec. 80(1)(a) of the "Andhra Pradesh Charitable, Hindu Religious and Endowments Act (Act No.30 of 1987). Thereafter, the 2nd respondent herein, issued proceedings in Rc.No.M2/1283/2002 dtd. 17/6/2002, according permission to the Single Trustee of the subject temple to sell the land in tender-cum-Public Auction held on 19-07- 2002.
3. In the said public auction, Mr. Kola Ramaiah, who was the brother of the petitioner's mother stood as the highest bidder and thereafter, he submitted an application to the 5th respondent herein, requesting to register the Sale Deed in favour of his sister i.e., petitoner's mother late Pogadadona Chandrakanthamma. The 5th respondent herein, later on requested the 2nd respondent to grant permission to register the same in favour of the petitioner's mother. Thereafter, the 2nd respondent, through his proceedings in Rc.No.M2/28344/2002 dtd. 3/10/2002, granted permission to register the Sale Deed in favour of the petitioner's mother i.e., P. Chandrakanthamma. Pursuant to that the registered Sale Deed was executed by the Single Trustee of the subject temple on 4/6/2008 in favour of the petitioner's mother.
4. But, however, the said Sale Deed was given pending registration number as P-29/2008 dtd. 4/6/2008 by the 7th respondent herein and thereafter the 7th respondent also issued "Intimation of refusal" dtd. 16/11/2015, to the petitioner's mother which was further filed in the Statutory Appeal under Sec. 72 of the Registration Act, 1908, challenging which the present writ petition is filed on the grounds that the 6th respondent herein, has no authority to address a letter dtd. 13/12/2016 to the 5th respondent herein without giving any opportunity to the petitioners' herein.
5. The only ground on which the 7th respondent has refused to register the document is that "though the Single Trustee is competent to register the Sale Deed, but it is an order passed in the year 2002 and hence the single trustee has not obtained permission from the Commissioner, Endowments Department, AP Hyderabad, to register the land in question".
6. The main grievance of the petitioner is that once the 2nd respondent i.e., the Commissioner, Endowments Department has already given permission to the single trustee of the said land to sell the land in tender-cum-public auction vide proceedings dtd. 3/10/2002. The question of further obtaining fresh permission once again for the registration of the Sale Deed does not arise and the registering authority has no review powers and he cannot sit in appeal suo-moto against the orders of the Commissioner, Endowments Department.
7. The Counsel for the petitioner brought to the notice of this Court, the proceedings of the Commissioner i.e., 2nd respondent dtd. 17/6/2002 while granting permission under Sec. 80 (1)(a) of the Act 30 of 1987, have stated as under:
"In the above circumstances, permission is hereby accorded U/s. 80(1)(a) of the A
The registering authority has no jurisdiction to review or suo-moto appeal against the orders of the Commissioner, Endowments Department, and must register the document based on the Commissioner's pe....
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