Kerala High Court Directs Authorities to Expedite Consideration of Application for Conversion of Paddy Land

Kerala High Court Directs Authorities to Expedite Consideration of Application for Conversion of Paddy Land

Background:

A petitioner approached the Kerala High Court seeking a direction to the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) to consider and dispose of an application for conversion of paddy land under the Kerala Conservation of Paddy land and Wetland Rules, 2008.

Legal Question:

Whether the authorities are bound to consider and dispose of an application for conversion of paddy land within a reasonable time.

Arguments Presented:

• Petitioner: The petitioner argued that the authorities have a statutory duty to consider and dispose of the application within a reasonable time.
• Government: The government argued that the authorities have discretion in considering such applications and that the petitioner had not provided sufficient evidence to show that the authorities had acted unreasonably.

Court's Analysis and Reasoning:

The court held that the authorities have a bounden duty to consider and dispose of an application for conversion of paddy land in accordance with law within a reasonable time. The court noted that the Rules provide for a specific procedure for considering such applications, including the submission of a report by the Agricultural Officer to the RDO.

The court further held that the petitioner had provided sufficient evidence to show that the authorities had not acted reasonably in considering the application. The court noted that the petitioner had filed the application in August 2023, but the Agricultural Officer had not yet submitted a report to the RDO.

Decision:

The court directed the Agricultural Officer to submit a report to the RDO within two months from the date of receipt of a copy of the judgment. The RDO was directed to dispose of the application within three months from the date of receipt of the report from the Agricultural Officer.

The court also directed that the timelines as above shall be strictly complied with by the respective officers.