SAKHAMURI NARASIMHA RAO Vs. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The controversy in this Civil Revision Petition revolves round the scope of section 53-C of the Hyderabad Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act. 1950 (XXI of 1950; and the Rules framed thereunder.

(2.) This enactment was made with a view inter alia to empower Government to assume in certain circumstances the management of such agricultural lands. This purpose is sought to be achieved by section 53-C of that Act. That section, in so far as it is relevant for the present enquiry, reads :

(3.) The petitioner is the owner of about 246 acres of land in the Khammam district. Purporting to act under this section, the Deputy Collector, Khammam, initiated proceedings to assume management of Ac. 104-26 guntas, which he declared to be in excess of four and a half times the family-holding. Overruling the objections raised by the petitioner as to his jurisdiction, the extent of the lands that could be taken over for management, etc., the Deputy Collector sought to take over the management of these lands. Dissatisfied with this order, the petitioner carried the matter in appeal to the Collector, who confirmed the order of the Deputy Collector. It is to revise this order that the present petition is filed in this Court.