THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE RAMESH RANGANATHAN WRIT PETITION No.29443 OF 2011 ORDER: This Writ Petition is filed questioning the notice issued under Section 7 of the Land Encroachment Act, 1905 (for short, “the Act”) on 20.10.2011, as without jurisdiction both on the grounds that the Mandal Revenue Inspector, who issued the said notice on 20.10.2011, is not the competent authority as it is only the Tahsildar who is competent to take action under Sections 6 and 7 of the Act; and as, even before the notice was issued on 20.10.2011, proceedings for eviction were passed by the Mandal Revenue Inspector on 05.10.2011 itself. When the matter was listed on 03.11.2011, Learned Government Pleader for Revenue (Assignment) sought time to obtain instructions. The matter again suffered two adjournments on 08.11.2011 and 11.11.2011. Today the Learned Government Pleader for Revenue (Assignment), on instructions, would state that the Mandal Revenue Inspector is not competent to issue the notice under Section 7 of the Act, or to direct eviction of the petitioners, as it is only the Tahsildar or the Mandal Revenue Officer who is competent to do so. Leaving it open to the competent authority to take action under the Act, if they so choose, the impugned notice dated 20.10.2011 and the earlier eviction proceedings dated 05.10.2011 are quashed as being without jurisdiction. The Writ Petition is, accordingly, allowed. However, in the circumstances, without costs. _____________________________ RAMESH RANGANATHAN, J November 14, 2011 MD THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE RAMESH RANGANATHAN WRIT PETITION No.29443 OF 2011 November 14, 2011 MD