APHC010059692025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI [3328]

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

FRIDAY ,THE SEVENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE GANNAMANENI RAMAKRISHNA PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO: 3291/2025 Between:

1. A RUMALLA SEETHA NAGA RATNAM,, W/O SRINIVASA RAO, AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS, R/O 29-14-89, LAKSHMIVARAPU PETA, DEVICHOWK RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM.

...PETITIONER AND

1. T HE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY IT'S PRINCIPAL SECRETARY (REVENUE), SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI.

2. T HE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT, RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM.

3. T HE REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER, RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT.

4. T HE TAHSILDAR, RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM MANDALAM, RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM.

5. K ANTIPUDI JANAKI RAO, S/O VENKATA RATNAM, AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS, R/O 6-128/3, PRAKASAM EMPLOYEES COLONY, KONTAMURU VILLAGE, RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM RURAL MANDALAM EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT.

...RESPONDENT(S):

1. J.V.PHANIDUTH

1. GP FOR REVENUE The Court made the following:

ORAL ORDER:

Heard Sri J.V. Phaniduth, learned Counsel for the Writ Petitioner and Sri K. Arjun Chowdhary, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue appearing for the Respondent Nos.1 to 4.

2. The Writ Petitioner herein is aggrieved of the conversion of land undertaken by the Revenue Divisional Officer (Respondent No.3). Learned Counsel for the Writ Petitioner would submit that the land belonging to the Writ Petitioner of an extent of Ac.0.03 cents in Sy.No.332/7 and Ac.0.08 cents situated partly in Sy.No.330/3E (old Sy.No.330/3C) and partly in Sy.No.334/4 of Kothamuru Village, Rajamahendravaram Rural Mandal. He would submit that despite the fact that the Writ Petitioner is the owner of the land, without any Notice to the Writ Petitioner, the land was converted from agricultural to non-agricultural classification, at the behest of the Unofficial Respondent No.5 herein. It is the submission of the learned Counsel for the Writ Petitioner that challenging the Proceedings of Respondent No.3 dated 06.12.2012 (Ex.P.14), the Writ Petitioner has filed an Appeal/Representation before the District Collector, East Godavari District (Respondent No.2) on 12.12.2024 and the same is pending.

3. Learned Counsel for the Writ Petitioner would also submit that the Petitioner had no knowledge of the Proceedings of Respondent No.3 dated 06.12.2012 until 02.12.2024. Soon after it came to the knowledge about the illegal conversion, the Writ Petitioner has filed an Appeal/Representation before the Respondent No.2 on 12.12.2024.

4. Having regard to the above facts and circumstances, this Court deems it appropriate to dispose of this Writ Petition, at the admission stage, without going into the merit, directing the District Collector, East Godavari District (Respondent No.2) to dispose of the Appeal/Representation filed by the Writ Petitioner on 12.12.2024 within a period of 14 weeks from today by passing a Speaking Order in accordance with law and communicate a copy of such Order to all the interested parties.

5. Needless to state that the Respondent No.2 is statutorily obligated to adhere to the principles of Natural Justice by issuing advance Notice to all the interested parties including the Writ Petitioner and the Unofficial Respondent No.5 herein, consider their submissions/objections and documents, if any, before passing the final order.

6. Writ Petitioner is directed to submit a copy of this Order to Respondent No.2 within one week from today, for effective compliance.

7. With these observations and directions, this Writ Petition stands disposed of. No order as to costs.

8. Interlocutory Applications, if any, stand closed in terms of this order.

______________________________________ GANNAMANENI RAMAKRISHNA PRASAD, J Dt: 07.02.2025 Vns