IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY, THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRIT PETITION NO : 8395 of 2008 Between: 1 D.Prabhakar Rao, S/o. Late Surya Rao, R/o. H.No.3-8-72/2/A/1, Meher Nagar, Shanthi Nagar Road,Siricilla, Karimnagar District. 2 Bhooopathi Yellaiah, S/o. Narsaiah, Chinthaltana Village, Siricilla Mandal, Karimnagar District. 3 Esthari Rajaiah, S/o. Yellaiah, Chinthaltana Village, Siricilla Mandal, Karimnagar District. 4 Sirigiri Ramesh, S/o. Narsaiah, Sircilla, Karimnagar District. 5 R.Rama Rao, S/o. Satyanarayana Rao, R/o.Chinthaltana Village, Siricilla Mandal, Karimnagar District. 6 Bhoopathi Balaraju, S/o. Malliah, R/o.Chinthaltana Village, Siricilla Mandal, Karimnagar District. 7 Cheeti Geetha Rani, W/o. Raghavender Rao, R/o.Chinthaltana Village, Siricilla Mandal, Karimnagar District. ..... PETITIONERS AND 1 The Chief Commissioner, Land Revenue Administration, Govt of Andhra Pradesh, Nampally Station Road, Hyderabad. 2 The District Collector, Karimnagar District, Karimnagar. .....RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the Affidavit filed herein the High Court will be pleased to issue a direction or order or orders particularly one in the nature of writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents No.1 & 2 herein in not considering our representation dated: 13-3-2008 for not changing the Land Acquisition Officer is Arbitrary and illegal and a direction may be issued to respondents Nos.1 and 2 herein not to change the Land Acquisition Officer or to pass any other order or orders as the Hon’ble Court deems fit and proper in the circumstances of the case. Counsel for the Petitioners: MOHD.ASIFUDDIN Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR LAND ACQUISITION The Court made the following : THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA WRIT PETITION No. 8395 of 2008 ORDER: According to the petitioners, their lands were acquired under the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act and at a stage when the Land Acquisition Officer held an enquiry and was about to pass an award, the authorities are thinking of changing the Land Acquisition Officer. Coming to know of the same, petitioners gave a representation on 13- 03-2008 to the first respondent not to change the said Land Acquisition Officer. Despite the said representation being made, no orders have yet been passed. Hence, the petitioners approached this Court and filed the present writ petition. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners. 3. It is not for the petitioners to choose the Land Acquisition Officer. In the circumstances and if it is required, it is always open for the Government to change the Land Acquisition Officer. For instance, if the Collector is appointed as Land Acquisition Officer, and he initiated the proceedings under the Land Acquisition Act and thereafter if he is transferred, the next Collector will enter into his shoes and complete the remaining part of the land acquisition proceedings. The parties cannot say that the same Collector shall complete the entire proceedings under the Land Acquisition Act. However, as the representation of the petitioners dated 13-03-2008 is very much pending with the authority, the first respondent is hereby directed to pass appropriate orders thereon within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 4. Writ petition is accordingly disposed of. No order as to costs. _____________________________ GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA, J Dt: 17-04-2008 Rns. To 1. The Chief Commissioner, Land Revenue Administration, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, Nampally Station Road, Hyderabad. 2. The District Collector, Karimnagar District, Karimnagar. 3. Two CCs. 4. Two CD copies.