JUDGMENT

Dated this the 20th day of December, 2022 The petitioner, who is owner of 20.4 Ares of land in Block No.15 of Vallikunnam Village of Mavelikkara Taluk in Alappuzha District, has filed this writ petition seeking to direct the 2nd respondent-Revenue Divisional Officer to consider and pass orders on Ext.P3 application within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.

2. The petitioner states that he is owner of 20.4 Ares of land situated in Survey No.271/7-2 of Block No.15 of Vallikunnam Village, Mavelikkara Taluk in Alappuzha District. The land is a garden land. It is not cultivated with paddy. It is not fit for paddy cultivation either. However, the land is included in Data Bank and is described as 'Nilam' in Revenue records also.

3. The petitioner wants to use the land for other purposes. Hence, the petitioner filed Ext.P3 application in Form-5, invoking Rule 4(d) of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Rules, 2008. The application was filed on 21.11.2022. The application is not disposed of so far. Unless the application is considered expeditiously, the petitioner will be put to untold hardship and loss, contends the petitioner.

4. The Government Pleader representing