J U D G M E N T

The petitioners have purchased various properties from members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes after 1960, for valid consideration. Subsequently, proceedings were initiated against the petitioners under the provisions of the Kerala Restriction on Transfer by and Restoration of Lands to Scheduled Tribes Act (for short “Act”), 1999, based on complaints filed by the transferors of the properties, namely respondent Nos. 6 to

8.

2. Thereafter, pursuant to the directions issued by this Court in Ext. P1, the Revenue Divisional Officer, by Exts. P2 and P3 proceedings, exercised powers under the Act, 1999, and ordered restoration of various properties in the possession of the petitioners.

3. The case of the petitioners in this writ petition is that, pursuant to Ext. P3 proceedings, the Village Officer, Agali, prepared a mahazar (Ext. P4), in which substantial improvements in the property were identified. According to the petitioners, they are therefore entitled to compensation under Section 8 of the Act, 1999.

4. In these circumstances, the petitioners have filed the present writ pe