THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.21901 of 2009 ORDER: Sri Venugopalaswamy Temple, Ulavapadu Village and Mandal, Prakasam District, owns land in different survey numbers of Madanagopalapuram Village. The District Collector, Prakasam, issued proceedings dated 16.03.2004 to the effect that an extent of Acs.59.08 cents of land owned by the temple be distributed among landless poor of said Village on payment of Rs.17,72,400/- as cost, to the Executive Officer. The petitioners are said to be some of the identified beneficiaries. They seek implementation of the proceedings dated 16.03.2004. A detailed counter-affidavit has been filed by the fifth respondent. According to them, not even a proposal was mooted for alienation of the land and that they are totally ignorant of the proceedings dated 16.03.2004. It is stated that the temple has never intended to alienate its land. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Government Pleader for Endowments and the learned standing counsel for the fifth respondent temple. It appears that the then District Collector felt that he is the sole representatory of the lands in the District and he can do whatever he chooses. Obviously, under that impression, he proceeded to make arrangement for distribution of the land held by the temple. It is on account of the attitude of such irresponsible officials that the properties held by various religious institutions are either encroached or grabbed by various individuals or agencies. In case the Collector wanted to exhibit his benevolence, the least expected of him was to correspond with the temple and ascertain as to whether it is prepared to sell the land. However, he proceeded on the assumption that his word will prevail and there cannot be any objection from the temple also. In categorical terms, the fifth respondent temple stated that they were never approached nor any proposal was mooted for alienation of their land. This Court is serious on the attitude executed by the then Collector in issuing the impugned proceedings dated 16.03.2004. Such proceedings do not have any force of law. On the other hand they depict irresponsibility on the part of the officer who passed it. The Writ Petition is accordingly dismissed. The fifth respondent temple is directed to take all steps to protect the land as well as to remove the encroachments, if any. Under no circumstances, the land shall be sold and the income derived out of it shall be utilised for maintenance and improvement of the temple. There shall be no order as to costs. _______________________ L.NARASIMHA REDDY, J 21st April, 2010 GHN