JUDGMENT

1. The plaintiffs in O.S.No.3 of 1999, on the file of the learned Senior Civil Judge at Suryapet are the appellants challenging the judgment dtd. 10/7/2002. By the impugned judgment, the suit filed by the plaintiffs seeking recovery of possession of suit land in terms of Sec. 54-A of the Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) Land Revenue Act was dismissed.

2. For the sake of convenience, hereinafter, the parties are referred to as arrayed in the suit.

3. One Ambati Gopaiah, father of the plaintiffs, was the absolute owner and possessor of the lands in Sy. Nos. 98, 99, 100 and 122, totally admeasuring to an extent of Ac.11-91 cents, situated at Ganapavaram Village of Munagala Mandal of Nalgonda District. The said land was acquired by the Government by initiating the proceedings under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 in the year 1963 for the purpose of excavation of N.S.P. left canal. However, out of the said land, an extent of Ac.4.00 cents of land was kept vacant and unutilized by the defendants for the last 30 years as it was not required for the purpose for which it was acquired. Hence, the father of the plaintiffs made several representations to the defendant authorities seeking