IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) WEDNESDAY, THE NINTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND ELEVEN PRESENT THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR WRIT PETITION No.12907 of 2008 BETWEEN Y. Sanjeeva Reddy. ... PETITIONER AND The District Collector, Krishna District and four others. ...RESPONDENTS Counsel for the Petitioner: MR. B. CHINNAPA REDDY Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR REVENUE The Court made the following: ORDER: The grievance of the petitioner herein is with regard to the inaction of the respondent authorities in carrying out mutation in the revenue records in his favour in respect of the land admeasuring Ac.3.94 cents in R.S.No.317/2 of Chevuturu village, G. Konduru Mandal, Krishna District. 2. Reliance is placed by the petitioner upon the order dated 18.07.1958 of the Assistant Settlement Officer, Nuzvid, recognizing the right of the petitioner’s vendors to a ryotwari patta under Section 11 (a) of the Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Area) Estates (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1948 in respect of the subject land. Basing on the proceedings of the Assistant Settlement Officer, Nuzvid, the Sub-Collector, Vijayawada entertained the application of the petitioner for effecting changes in the revenue records and passed order dated 29.03.1996 directing the Mandal Revenue Officer, G. Konduru Mandal, to look into the matter personally, take necessary action and report compliance. Reference was made therein to the fact that the land was notified as ‘assessed waste dry’ in the resettlement and that the Settlement Officer, Nuzvid had directed grant of patta over the extent of Ac.3.94 cents in R.S.No.317/2, Chevuturu village. 3. A counter affidavit is filed by the Tahsildar, G. Konduru Mandal, Krishna District, admitting that the subject land was in the possession of the petitioner and his family members as duly noted in the revenue records. It is however stated that the petitioner failed to produce a copy of the order dated 18.07.1958 passed by the Assistant Settlement Officer, Nuzvid, in favour of his predecessors in title. It is further stated that upon the application made by the petitioner, the District Collector, Krishna District had directed an enquiry into the matter and during the pendency thereof, the petitioner had approached this Court by way of the present writ petition. With regard to the direction issued by the Sub- Collector, Vijayawada in his order dated 29.03.1996, it is stated that no action was taken by the then Mandal Revenue Officer, G. Konduru Mandal, in the matter. 4. The aforestated sequence of events clearly demonstrates that there is considerable delay and inaction on the part of the authorities in resolving the matter. In spite of the Sub-Collector, Vijayawada, directing action to be taken in the matter as long back as in the year 1996, the issue is still kept pending. Needless to state, the revenue authorities cannot protract these matters indefinitely adversely affecting the rights of the citizens. There shall accordingly be a direction to respondents 1 to 3 to take necessary action in the matter. It shall be open to the petitioner to submit copies of all the documents relied upon by him afresh within two (2) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Thereupon, the respondent authorities shall duly enquire into the matter and take necessary action with regard to the mutation in the revenue records as sought by the petitioner in respect of the land admeasuring Ac.3.94 cents in Sy.No.317/2, Chevuturu village, G. Konduru Mandal, Krishna District, within two (2) months thereafter. The writ petition is disposed of with the above directions. There shall be no order as to costs. ______________ SANJAY KUMAR, J February 9, 2011 Note: Furnish C.C. of the order in five (5) days. (B/o) DSK