HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE C.V. NAGARJUNA REDDY W.P.No.19396 of 2011 Date: 18-8-2011 Between: J.Vishwanatham and others .. Petitioners And The Divisional Forest Officer, Mancherial, Adilabad District and others .. Respondents Counsel for petitioner : Sri Gajanand Chakravarthy Counsel for respondent Nos.1 to 3 : A.G.P. for Forests Counsel for respondent Nos.4 & 5 : A.G.P. for Revenue The Court made the following: ORDER: The grievance of the petitioners, who claim to be in occupation of Ac.3-00 each in Sy.No.148 of Mandamarri village, Adilabad District, is that despite the requests made by the Revenue officials, the Forest officials have not been cooperating in deciding whether the lands in their occupation are situated outside or within the Reserve Forest. A perusal of letter dated 15-12-2007 of respondent No.5 would go to show that in order to ascertain the above mentioned aspect, respondent No.5 has addressed the Divisional Forest Officer, Mancherial for a joint inspection of the land and the latter has deputed the Forest officials who conducted the joint inspection, but refused to sign the panchanama. Respondent No.5 stated that the Divisional Forest Officer, Mancherial is once again addressed to depute the Forest Officials for a joint inspection. No counter-affidavit is filed by any of the respondents. After hearing the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Forests, I am of the opinion that when there is a dispute regarding the nature of the land, it is the bounden duty of the Forest officials to cooperate in resolving the dispute. Having participated in the joint inspection, there can be no justification for the Forest officials for refusing to sign the panchanama. In this view of the matter, the Writ Petition is disposed of directing respondent No.1 to depute a team of Forest officials for joint inspection along with respondent No.5 and ascertain whether the land in Sy.No.148 in respect of which the petitioners are claiming pattas, falls within or outside the Reserve Forest. Respondent No.1 shall complete this exercise within a period of two months from the date of receipt of this order and communicate the result to the petitioners. Till then, status quo as on today shall be maintained with respect to the possession of the petitioners. As a sequel to disposal of the Writ Petition, WPMP No.23442/2011 is disposed of as infructuous. _______________________ Justice C.V.Nagarjuna reddy Date : 18-8-2011 AM