P.G.RAVEENDRAN Vs. PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner in both the writ petitions has similar grievance. According to the petitioners, for want of original survey plan, survey measurement could not be done by the Taluk Surveyor. The petitioners' prayer before this Court is that necessary steps shall be taken to reconstruct the original plan and to survey the petitioners' property.

(2.) The learned counsel for the petitioners placed reliance on the Kerala Survey Manual Volume II (Part I) and referred to the functions of the Superintendent of Survey and Land Records. He drew my attention to Chapter XV of the said Manual, specifically referring to the duties of the Superintendent of Survey and Land Records in regard to maintenance of F.M books, area registers, village maps and other survey records in his office. Therefore, it is submitted that if the original survey plan is lost, the Superintendent is bound to reconstruct the original plan.

(3.) On the other hand, placing reliance on Rule 67 of the Surveys and Boundaries Rules, 1964, learned Government Pleader submitted that if the petitioners produce a valid document to prove that the boundaries have been demarcated, the reconstruction can be done.