JUDGMENT

Anil K. Narendran, J.

The petitioners have filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of certiorari to quash Ext.P7 order dated 07.08.2016 of the 2^nd respondent District Collector, Idukki and a writ of mandamus commanding the respondents to assign the petitioners 4 Acres of land in Sy.No.34/1 of Chinnakanal Village, which is under the exclusive possession of the petitioners.

2. Going by the averments in the writ petition, the petitioners belong to a Scheduled Caste community, namely, Hindu Pallan. They are in absolute possession and enjoyment of 4 Acres of revenue land comprised in Sy.No.34/1 of Chinnakanal Village. Their father, Joseph @ Kalimuthu, served as a Soldier in the Indian Army from 1943 to 1946. He had obtained possession over 4 Acres of land comprised in Sy.No.34/1 of Chinnakanal Village during the year 1967. He cultivated the said land with seasonal crops like lemon grass, tapioca and vegetables.

3. In the writ petition, it is stated that the 4^th respondent Village Officer had issued possession certificates to the petitioners’ father on 18.02.1969 and 22.08.1992. The document marked as Ext.P1 is a copy of certificate No