JUDGMENT :

N. NAGARESH, J.

1. The petitioner is before this Court seeking to declare that the petitioner is not liable to file Form-7 application under the provisions of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008, for the property covered by Exts.P1 and P2 as the same is purchased prior to 30.12.2017 and is below 20.2 Ares of land. The petitioner further seeks to direct the 1st respondent to consider Form-6 applications filed by the petitioner.

2. The petitioner states that the petitioner purchased 19.82 Ares of property on 04.07.2017 as per Ext.P1 Sale Deed. On 26.07.2017, the petitioner purchased another property having an extent of 11.33 Ares as per Ext.P2 Sale Deed. Both the sales were effected prior to the introduction of Section 27A in the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008 with effect from 30.12.2017.

3. Both the properties of the petitioner were included in the Data Bank and were described as ‘Nilam’ in Revenue records. The properties were, however, later removed from the Data Bank.

4. Thereupon, the petitioner submitted Exts.P6 and P7 Form-6 applications to the Revenue Divisional Officer. On submission of Exts.P6 and P7, the petitioner was