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2024 Supreme(Telangana) 704

IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD
Surepalli Nanda, J.
D.S.N.Raju and others - Petitioner
Versus
State of A.P, Rep. by its Secretary and others - Respondents
W.P. Nos. 16686 of 2014
Decided On : 29-01-2024

IMPORTANT POINT
The court emphasized the necessity of timely appeals and the importance of recording reasons in administrative decisions, restoring the Occupancy Rights Certificate to the petitioners.

Headnote:

(A) Telangana Abolition of Inams Act, 1955 - Sections 7 and 24 - Writ of Certiorari - Petitioners challenged the order of the Joint Collector setting aside the Occupancy Rights Certificate (ORC) granted in 1979 - The court found that the Joint Collector acted without jurisdiction and failed to provide cogent reasons for the decision - The court emphasized the necessity of timely appeals and the importance of recording reasons in administrative decisions - The court restored the ORC, affirming the petitioners' rights over the land. (Paras 1-25)

(B) Jurisdiction - The court reiterated that a statutory authority must act within the prescribed time limits and provide reasons for its decisions to ensure fairness and transparency. (Paras 11-13)

ORDER :

Surepalli Nanda, J.

Heard the Learned Senior designate counsel Mr D.V.Sitaram Murthy representing the learned counsel on record, appearing on behalf of the Petitioners and the Learned Government Pleader for Revenue appearing on behalf of Respondents No.1 to 4 and the learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondents.

2. The Petitioner approached the Court seeking prayer in W.P.Nos. 16686 of 2014 as under :

    “to issue a writ of Certiorari or any other appropriate writ and quash the orders of the 1st respondent in Case No.F1/2200/2009, dated 01.02.2014 whereby and whereunder the 1st respondent has set aside the Occupancy Rights Certificate in File No.A/1233/1975, dated 28.11.1979.

PERUSED THE RECORD :

3. The relevant portion of the orders impugned dated 01.02.2014 in Case No.F1/2200/2009, reads as under:

    The ORC holders are denying the claim of the appellants in both the appeals and even the Protected Tenancy of their ancestors. A Certified Copy of the P.T. Register for the year 1950 of Bowenpally Vg, relating to Old Sy. No.17 filed by the appellants issued by the Tahsildar, Balanagar Mandal reveals that in Col. No.9 of the said register meant for the PT. the names of the P.Ts are found recorded with the area of Ac.10-19 gts, each occupied by them as detailed in Col.No. 10 of the said P.T. Register. A perusal of the certified copy of the orders under appeal vide Ret.No.A1/1233/75 dt. 11.1975 and signed on 31.10.1975 by the RDO, Hyd. West Divn. shows that it categorically says that there are no protected tenants over the suit land. This version of the RDO is contrary to the contents of the said Certified Copy of P.T. Register relating to Old Sy.No.17 of Bowenpally. This position of the records is evident that proper enquiry was not conducted by the lower court before issuing the orders under appeal and that no notice was given to the appellants herein as well as to the LRs of the Inamdars and their lineal descendants also.

    In the light of above position of facts & records I have no hesitation to set aside the order under appeal passed by the then RDO Hyd. West Divn. in File No.At/1233/75 dt. 11.1979 (signed by RDO on 31.10.1979) granting ORC in favours of the Inamdars / LRs being successorsin-interest in respect of land bearing Sy No.36 (Old Sy.No.17/1 & 17/2) and the same is hereby set aside and the matter is remanded to the Lower Court with a direction to conduct a fresh enquiry by issuing notices to all the appellants & Respondents in both the appeals including the legal heirs & co-parceners of the Inamdars as well as the appellants herein giving wide publicity of the enquiry & pass appropriate orders duly examining the aspect of protected tenancy claimed over the said lands. Accordingly both the appeals are disposed of.”

4. The relevant paragraph Nos. 5 and 7, of the counter affidavit filed by the Respondents No.6, 7 and 8 herein in W.P.No.16686 of 2014, which had been filed by one D.S.N. Raju and 23 others seeking an identical relief as in the present writ petition for issuance of a writ of certiorari and to quash the orders impugned of the 1st Respondent in Case No.F1/2200/2009 and Case No.F1/7122/2009, dated 01.02.2014 whereby and where under the 2nd Respondent herein had set aside the Occupancy Rights Certificate in File No.A/1233/1975, dated 28.11.1979, reads as under :

    “5. I submit that our grandfather, Sri Nallolla Balaram died intestate leaving behind his four sons and one daughter namely 1) N. Rajaiah (Respondent No.1 herein), 2) N. Balapochaih (died), 3) N. Narsimha, 4. N. Narayana (died) & Smt. Yashoda as his legal heirs and successors-in-interest and subsequently N.Bala Pochaiah died leaving behind him his 5 daughters namely 1) N. Sasi Reskha, 2) N. Jyoti, 3) N. Vijayalakshmi, 4) N. Vasantha & 5) N. Amaravathi as his legal heirs and successors-in-interest and whereas N.Narayana died leaving behind him his son namely 1) Kumar (born through his first wife, Smt. Yellamma) and his 2nd wife namely Smt. N. Kamalamma and

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