Back
2026 Supreme(Online)(Ker) 31678
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
P.V.Kunhikrishnan, J
P Mini – Appellant
Versus
District Collector – Respondent
WP(C) NO. 18162 OF 2026
For the Appellants/Petitioners: K.Mohammed Rafeeq, Bibin Mathew, Vishnumaya Anandan, Sonymon Antony, Abhijith P.A.
For the Respondents: Deepa
The High Court may issue a direction to statutory authorities to dispose of pending applications under the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008, within a fixed timeframe.
Headnote:The petitioner filed a writ petition seeking a direction for the consideration of an application submitted under S.27A of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008, for the conversion of landed property. The petitioner requested the court to mandate the second respondent to process the application and the fourth respondent to update land records accordingly. The core issue was whether the statutory authority could be directed to dispose of a pending application within a specific timeframe. The court observed that such applications, when filed in accordance with the Act and Rules, necessitate timely consideration by the competent authority to ensure the fair exercise of statutory powers and beneficial use of property. The writ petition was disposed of with a directive to the respondents to verify, report, and decide upon the pending application within a prescribed period.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. court mandate for time-bound consideration of statutory land conversion applications. (Para 4) |
JUDGMENT
This writ petition is filed seeking the following reliefs:
“1. Issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ or order or direction to the second respondent to consider Exhibit-P2 application submitted by the petitioner in Form No.6 under Section 27A of Kerala Conservation of Paddy and Wetland Act, 2008, and thereby permit the petitioner to use her landed property for beneficial purposes, within a reasonable period that may be fixed by this honourable court.
2. Direct the fourth respondent to make new entries in village records and basic tax register regarding taxation of landed property having an extend of 4 Ares 49 Square meter in Block No.001 in Survey No. 143/24 of Nellikode Village in Kozhikkode Taluk, Kozhikkode District, after getting permission from the second respondent to use the said land for the beneficial purposes.
3. Dispense with the filing of translation of vernacular documents produced along with this writ petition.
4. Issue such other writ or order or direction which this honourable court may deem fit and proper in the interest of justice and circumstances of the case.” [SIC]
2. The main prayer in this Writ Petition is to consider Ext.P2 Form-6 application filed by the petitioner under Section 27A read with Rule 12(1) of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act and Rules, 2008 ('Act and Rules' in short).
3. Heard, the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader.
4. After hearing both sides, I think there can be a direction to consider Ext.P2 within a time frame.
Therefore, this Writ Petition is disposed of in the following manner:
1. The 4th respondent is directed to submit the necessary report based on Ext.P2 Form-6 application to the 2nd respondent / Authorised Officer within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment.
2. The 2nd respondent / Authorised O directed to consider Ext.P2 Form-6 application (if it is pending and if it is in order) based on the report received from the 4th respondent, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within a period of four months from the date of receipt of the report. I make it clear that the 2nd respondent is free to pass appropriate orders in accordance with the law.
3. The petitioner will produce a certified copy of this judgment, along with a copy of this Writ Petition with exhibits, before the 2nd and 4th respondents for compliance.
