JUDGMENT :

(Through Virtual Mode)

1. Through the medium of instant petition, the petitioner has challenged order dated 29.07.2015 passed by the ADC/Agrarian Reforms Commissioner, Budgam and order dated 31.10.2017 passed by the J&K Special Tribunal, Srinagar.

2. Briefly stated, the case of the petitioner is that he has all along been in actual physical and cultivating possession of land measuring 1 kanal, 3 1/2 marlas comprised in khasra No. 2100/536 of village Beerwah. After coming into force of J&K Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976 (for short 'the Act') mutation bearing No. 2511 dated 20.08.1989 came to be attested in favour of the petitioner in terms of Section 4 of the Act thereby conferring prospective ownership rights of the land in question in her favour. Vide Mutation bearing no. 2728 dated 01.08.1991, exclusive ownership rights of the aforesaid land was conferred in favour of the petitioner in terms of Section 8 of the Act after he had deposited the requisite levy in respect of the said land.

3. It is the further case of the petitioner that after a lapse of more than 21 years, respondent No. 4 without any locus standi filed an appeal against the mutation orders bearing No. 2511 dated