Court mandated processing of land conversion application without imposing conversion fee under specific regulations.

JUDGMENT

The above Writ Petition (C) is filed with the following prayers:

"(i) a Writ of Certiorari or any other writ, order or direction quashing Ext.P8, P10 and P12 letters/order passed by the 2^nd respondent;

(ii) a Writ of Mandamus or any other writ, order or direction declaring that the petitioner’s land admeasuring 24.50 cents (9.92 ares) in Survey No.162/2-4 and 162/4-11 of Kuttippuram Village, Tirur Taluk, Malappuram District, is eligible for exemption from payment of conversion fees under the provisions of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wet Land Act, 2008 Act as per Ext.P7 Notification;

(iii) a Writ of Mandamus or any other writ, order or direction commanding the 2^nd respondent to pass orders allowing the petitioner’s Ext.P2 application for conversion of the nature of his land under the provisions of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wet Land Act, 2008 , free of payment of the conversion fees as granted by Ext.P7 Government Order;

(iv) an order dispensing with production of English translation of the exhibits in Malayalam for the present;

(v) any other or further order as may be deemed fit on the facts and in the circumstances of the case."

[SIC]

2. Petitioner submitted Ext.P2 Form – 6 application for conversion of the nature of his land. The petitioner is aggrieved because coversion fee is claimed as per Ext.P8. According to the petitioner, the property is below 25 cents, and therefore, in the light of Ext.P7 circular, the petitioner need not pay the coversion fee. Hence this Writ Petition is filed.

3. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader.

4. When this Writ Petition came up for consideration before this Court on 26.11.2025, this Court directed the 3^rd respondent to measure the property of the petitioner mentioned in Ext.P2 application and submit a report. The Government Pleader made available a report submitted by the 3^rd respondent, in which it is stated that the property is measured and the extent is only 0.0994 Hectares, which is equivalent to 24.556 cents. If that be the case, the direction to pay conversion fee cannot be imposed on the petitioner.

Therefore, this Writ Petition is disposed of in the following manner:

The 2^nd respondent is directed to process Ext.P2 application without insisting for conversion fee, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment.

Sd/-