MERLA VENKATA RAO Vs. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This revision petition is filed under section 21 of the Andhra Pradesh Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings) Act, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as the Act). The petitioner filed a declaration under section 8 (1) of the Act showing that he was holding Ac. 119.82 cents of land. His wife filed a separate declaration showing an extent of Ac. 125.26 cents as held by her. Both the declarations were clubbed together as the petitioner and his wife constitute a 'family unit' within the meaning of section 3 (f) of the Act. The declarations were referred to the Tahsildar and Deputy Tabhildars of the concerned villages, and they submitted their verification reports. In the verification report relating to tbe declaration filed by the wife, it was mentioned that the extents of Ac. 20-72 cents Karapa village, Ac. 2-61 cents of Ghinamamidada village, 0-14 cents of Velangi village, belonging to her, were not shown in her declaration. Survey No. 253/8 was wrongly mentioned as survey No. 253 with an extent of Ac. 2.40 cents while the correct extent is Ac. 2.27 cents. The Tahsildar, Peddapuram, mentioned in his report that the lands of the extent of Ac. 41.39 cents in Anufti village of Peddapuram taluk, were gifted away by the wife to Merala Agastayya under a registered settlement died, that the said Agastayya, declared the said lanels in his declaration, and therefore, they were excluded in computing the holding of the family unit comprising of the petitioner and his wife.

(2.) The petitioner filed objections with regard to the verification reports on behalf of himself and his wife. The main objection taken by the petitiener and his wife was that the following alienations made by them should be excluded in computing their holding:- <FRM>MAH_B_281005.407.htm</FRM>

(3.) The petitioner filed Exhibits P-13 ant P-14 typed copies of his wealth-tax returns for the assessment year 1972-73, and Exhibits P-22 and P-23 typed copies of wealth-tax returns submitted by his wife for the assessment year 1972-73. He examined in all 15 witnesses including himself.