(1.) This contempt case is filed alleging that the respondents herein have violated the orders of this Court dated 3-10-2002 in WPMP No.24025/2002 in WP No.19105/2002.
(2.) In the affidavit filed in support of the contempt case, it is stated that the petitioners are the owners and possessors of land admeasuring Ac.4-47 cents in RS.Mo.128/lB of North Valluru revenue village, Thotlavalluru Mandal, Krishna District. This land is stated to be the subject matter of the proceedings under the A.P.Land Reforms (Ceilings on Agricultural Holdings) Act, 1973 (for short 'the Act') being CC.No.874/V/75. Initially, the petitioners approached this Court in WP.No.6546/92 alleging that they were sought to be dispossessed from their land without following the procedure prescribed under the Act and the Rules made there under. The writ petition was allowed through orders dated 30-11-1995 and the concerned Revenue authorities were directed to publish notices as required under Section 10(6) of the Act and pass appropriate orders. Pursuant to the directions issued by this Court, the Land Reforms Tribunal, Vijayawada, , issued fresh notices and through its order dated 27-4-2001 overruled the objections raised by the petitioners. Aggrieved thereby, vhe petitioners carried the matter in appeal to the Land Reforms Appellate Tribunal by filing LPA 6/2001. Through its order dated 16-4-2002, the Appellate Tribunal held that the correct procedure was not followed, possession of the land said to have been taken from the petitioners on 24-8-1981 is contrary to law and ultimately remanded the matter for fresh adjudication.
(3.) The petitioners claimed that they have been in possession and enjoyment of the land throughout and certain private individuals including the 4th respondent herein were interfering with their possession. It is also their case that after remand, the notices were not being served on them and that the 1st respondent herein had forcibly obtained their signatures on blank papers. Exchange of notices oh the basis of these allegations ensued between the petitioners, on the one hand, and the 1st respondent on the other. Feeling aggrieved by the acts and omissions in the proceedings that are pending before the Land Reforms Tribunal, after remand, the petitioners filed WP No.19105/2002 seeking a declaration that the action of the 1st respondent herein in obtaining signatures and thumb impressions of the petitioners and harassing them in the matter of enjoyment of the land even after the orders of the Land Reforms Tribunal, West Godavari, Eluru, as illegal and arbitrary and sought for direction to the 1 st respondent herein to return those papers. They also sought for a direction to the Land Reforms Tribunal who was impleaded as the 1 st respondent in the writ petition, to consider the Interlocutory Applications filed by them in CC No.874/V1975. They have filed WPMP No.24025 of 2002 seeking a direction to the respondents not to interfere with the possession of the lands referred to above.