(1.) The petitioner is lessee of the 3rd respondent institution to an extent of Ac.3.50 cents in R.S.No.343/4 and R.S.No.338/1 of Manepalli Village, P.Gannavaram Mandal, East Godavari District. He has also been declared as a landless poor person, under Rule 3 of Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Lease of Agricultural Lands Rules, 2003 (for short, 'the Rules of 2003') by the Assistant Commissioner, Endowments Department, Rajahmundry in proceedings Rc.No.A2/9661/2003, dated 24.12.2003.
(2.) The petitioner has now approached this Court, being aggrieved by the action of the 3rd respondent in seeking to conduct auction of the lease hold rights of the land held by the petitioner for the period 2021 to 2023.
(3.) Sri Ponnada Sree Vyas, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that once the petitioner has been recognized as a landless poor person, under the provision of Section 82 of Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions & Endowments Act, 1987 (for short 'the Act') r/w Rule 3 of 'the Rules of 2003', the respondents cannot auction the lease hold rights and the petitioner is entitled to continue as lessee on payment of 2/3rd of the market rent for similarly situated lands.