(1.) Having failed to persuade the learned Single Judge to accept their prayer for quashing order dated 18-12-2000 passed by Joint Collector, Khammam (respondent No.1), the appellants have preferred this appeal under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent.
(2.) The appellants 'are related to each other. Appellant No.3 is the wife of appellant No.1 and appellant No.2 is the son of appellant Nos.1 and 3. Appellant No.1 was a native of West Godavari District till 1979. In 1979-1980, he settled down in Aswaraopet Village of Khammam District and by using his political clout, he could manage to get assignment of Ac.5-00 of land in Survey No.1228 for himself and similar extents of land in the name of his three relatives, namely, Datla Ravi Kumar Varma, Penmathsa Balarama Raju and Gadiraju Ramachandra Raju. Appellant No.1 also occupied land measuring Ac.5-00 abutting to his land, which was assigned to landless poor person.
(3.) It is borne out from the record that the lands assigned to Penmathsa Balaram Raju and Gadiraju Ramachandra Raju were reassigned to one Chaldi Veeraswamy, resident of Bonakal Mandal in the category of freedom fighter. This was done without cancelling the earlier assignment. Shri Chaldi Veeraswamy is said to have sold the land to appellant No.3 vide registered document No.1609 of 1996. Likewise, the lands assigned to appellant No.1 and Datla Ravi Kumar Varma were re-assigned to Chirra Venkaiah (another freedom fighter), resident of Churunornula Village of Bonakal Mandal in the category of freedom fighter albeit without cancelling the earlier assignment. The latter sold the land to appellant No.2 vide registered sale deed dated 24-6-1996.