Stop memos can only be issued for properties classified as paddy land or wetland per the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act.

Dated this the 13^th day of August, 2025 JUDGMENT The writ petition is filed to quash Exts.P6 stop memo and P7 show cause notice.

2. The petitioner is the owner in possession of

8.34 Ares of land comprised in Survey Nos.131/7-4, 131/9-4, 131/10-8 of Ezhuvathuruthy Village, Ponnani Taluk, covered under Ext.P2 land tax receipt. The property is classified as ‘Nanja’ and included in the revenue records. However, the property is not included in the data bank prepared under Section 5 of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008 ('Act' in short). Nonetheless, the respondents have issued Ext.P6 stop memo and Ext.P7 show cause notice against the petitioner. Ext.P6 and P7 are illegal and arbitrary.

Hence, the writ petition.

3. Heard; the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Senior Government Pleader.

4. The learned Senior Government Pleader concedes that the petitioner’s property is not included in the data bank.

5. It is not in dispute that the petitioner’s property is not included in the data bank either as paddy land or wetland.

6. It is no longer res-integra in view of the law laid down by this Court in Shanawaz Mytheenkunju v. Village Officer, Keerikkad Village ( 2025(1) KHC 447 ), that a stop memo can be issued under Section 12 of the Act, only if the property is classified as paddy land or wetland as defined under the Act.

As the property is not included in the data bank, I hold that Exts.P6 stop memo and P7 show cause notice are untenable. Accordingly, I quash Exts.P6 and P7 and permit the petitioner to use the property in accordance with law.