ADAPAPA VENKATA REDDY Vs. REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In all these three Writ Petitions the order I dated 9-4-1997, issued by the Revenue I Divisional Officer and Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Gudur, Nellore Distric-1st respondent, is in challenge. Hence, they are disposed of through this common order.

(2.) Petitioners are in possession of various extents of land in Sy.No.135, at present in Ward No.13, Bazar Street, Venkatagiri Town. They claim to have made constructions on the said plots. The land in an extent of 102 Ankanams is said to have been gifted by Venkatagiri Raja to the Wakf Board to be used as 'Agnigundam' (Akva Site) during the Moharrum celebrations. A notification in the A.P. Gazette was issued on 23-1-1992, declaring it as 'Wakf Property'.

(3.) Petitioners were served with the copy of the order dated 9-4-1997. It discloses that the Chief Executive Officer of the A.P. Wakf Board-3rd respondent found the Wakf property to have been encroached by various individuals including petitioners and in exercise of power under Section 54 of the Wakf Act, 1995, (herein after referred to as 'the Act') issued notices requiring the encroachers to vacate the land within ten days from the date of receipt of a copy of that order. It is further stated that since petitioners did not either submit their explanation or vacate the land, the 3rd respondent issued a requisition to the 1st respondent to evict the encroachers and in pursuance of the same, the 1st respondent issued the impugned order requiring petitioners to vacate the place within seven days from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.