CHINTAPANDU SAVITRAMMA Vs. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, Government Pleader for Forest, Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue and Sri Vinod K.Reddy for respondent No.9.

(2.) After considering the submissions made, this Court is of the opinion that the writ petition itself can be disposed of in view of the facts which have emanated.

(3.) Sri J.Sravan Kumar, learned counsel for the petitioners, submits that the petitioners have been issued DKT Pattas and Pattadar Pass Books/Record of Rights Books, after due enquiry. He submits that the possession of the petitioners over the property cannot be really disputed as the records are still standing in their own name. He, therefore, questions the right and authority of the Forest Department to issue the impugned notices under Section 20(3) of the A.P.Forest Act, 1967 and he contends that the land is not Forest land. It is his contention that as the Revenue Department has accepted the petitioners' possession and enjoyment, as can be seen from the Pattadar Pass Books etc. He therefore argues that the petitioners cannot be evicted by the Forest Department. He also draws the attention of this Court to an earlier order passed in WP.No.7556 of 2020, wherein a coordinate Bench of this Court directed the respondents not to interfere with the possession of the petitioners except under due process.