IMPORTANT POINT
The court established that jurisdictional overreach by administrative authorities can invalidate their orders, necessitating adherence to procedural fairness.

ORDER :

(Ravi Cheemalapati, J.)

Questioning the proceedings vide Ref.No.F1/2375/2020 dated 14.10.2022 issued by respondent No.2 declaring the Ryotwari Patta issued by to petitioner No.4 with regard to the land in Survey No.7/1 to an extent of Ac.0.83 cents and Survey No.8/8 to an extent of Ac.0.89 cents of Krishnapuram village, C.K.Dinne Mandal under the Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Area) Inams (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1956 (for short ‘Inams Act, 1956’) as null and void, the present Writ Petition is filed.

2. Heard Sri S.Lakshmi Narayana Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioners, Smt.Prasanti Gude, learned counsel for respondent Nos.1 to 4 and Sri V.V.N.Narasimham, learned counsel for respondent Nos.5 and 6.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioners, in elaboration to what has been stated in the affidavit contended that, petitioner Nos.1 to 3 are the sthotriyumdars of the subject land, having inherited the same from their ancestors and petitioner No.4 purchased the said property from petitioner Nos.1 to 3 under registered sale deed dated 17.12.2018 and since the date of purchase, petitioner No.4 has been in possession and enjoyment of the same till date. He further submitted that respondent Nos.5 and 6 filed applications before respondent No.4 seeking for grant of Ryotwari pattas in respect of the subject land which is Inam land. On coming to know about the same, petitioner Nos.1 to 3 made a representation to respondent No.4 stating that they are the Inamdars and that they sold it to petitioner No.4 under registered sale deed and petitioner No.4 is in possession of the subject land. Respondent No.4 vide proceedings dated 20.01.2020 passed orders holding that petitioner No.4 purchased the subject land in good faith and for valuable consideration and got title over the subject land, as such he is entitled to Ryotwari patta in accordance with Section 4 of Inams Act, 1956. Aggrieved by the same, respondent Nos.5 and 6 filed appeal before respondent No.3 under Section 7(2) of the Act and respondent No.3 vide proceedings dated 08.08.2020 remanded the matter to respondent No.4 for fresh consideration and for passing appropriate orders according to the Act and Rules in force, after giving reasonable opportunity to all interested parties. Aggrieved by the said order, respondent Nos.5 and 6 filed appeal before respondent No.2 under Section 10A(2) of the Act and respondent No.2 vide proceedings dated 14.10.2022 passed orders holding that respondent Nos.5 and 6 are eligible to claim Ryotwari patta under the Estates (Abolition and Conversion of Ryotwari) Act, 1948 (for short ‘Act of 1948’) and given liberty to respondent Nos.5 and 6 to make application before the competent authority. He further submitted that respondent No.2-Joint Collector without proper application of mind has treated the subject land as Estate land and passed orders exceeding his jurisdiction. Challenging the said proceedings of respondent No.2, the present Writ Petition is filed.

4. On the other hand, learned Assistant Government Pleader, on counter of respondent No.2, contended that the unofficial respondents i.e., respondent Nos.5 and 6 made a representation before respondent No.2-Joint Collector, stating that they have filed appeal before the then Joint Collector, Kadapa against the petitioners regarding issuance of Ryotwari Patta with regard to the subject property as they got the same through unregistered document in the year 1975 and since then, they are in possession and enjoyment of the same, but the then Joint Collector, Kadapa did not pass any orders and the same is pending consideration, hence, he requested to reopen the case. Respondent No.2, after verification of the revenue records and in the light of the arguments submitted by the parties and after giving opportunity to both the petitioners and respondents, came to the conclusion that the unofficial respondents are eligible to claim pattadar pass book and directed them to make an application b