JUDGMENT :

A.Muhamed Mustaque, J.

The writ petitioner, a resident of Ernakulam District applied for assignment of land invoking provisions of the Kerala Land Assignment (Regularisation of Occupation of Forest Lands Prior to 1-1-1977) Special Rules, 1993 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Special Rules 1993’). The application was submitted for assignment of 4 acres of land in Survey No.384, 400/1 of Block No.36 in Vathikudy Village of Idukki District. According to the petitioner, his predecessor-in-interest was in occupation of the land prior to 1/1/1977. The petitioner applied for assignment of land on 8/12/2017.

2. Admittedly, the land is situated in Cardamom Hill Reserve in Udumbanchola Taluk. There is no dispute to the fact that Special Rules 1993 would apply for assignment of land situated in Cardamom Hill Reserve.

3. According to the petitioner, this land was part of Survey No.1/1 of Konnathady Village of Udumbanchola Taluk. The petitioner submitted that the predecessor-in-interest Shri Monikutty Mathew made an application for leasing the land for cardamom cultivation. It is further submitted that occupation of land by predecessor-in-interest was acknowledged by the revenue authorit