IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD FRIDAY, THE TWENTY FIRST DAY OF NOVEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE D.S.R.VARMA and THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE G.CHANDRAIAH WRIT APPEAL NO : 1542 of 2008 (Writ Appeal under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent against the Order dated 17/11/2008 in WP NO : 25208 OF 2008 on the file of the High Court.) Between: 1 V. Srinivas S/o. V. Narayana H.No. 2-23-310, Plot No.305, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 2 N. Anasuya W/o. N. Jalaiah H.No. 2-23-312/2, Plot No.307, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 3 D.M. Reddy S/o. Anja Reddy H.No. 2-23-327, Plot No.329, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 4 B. Subramanya Reddy S/o. Narayana Reddy H.No. 2-23-331, Plot No.333, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 5 S. Narayana Rao S/o. Atchaiah H.No. 2-23-332, Plot No.334, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 6 K. Subba Lakshmi W/o. Late K. Raghava Reo H.No. 2-23-346, Plot No.353, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 7 V. Sri Kanth S/o. V. Rama Rao H.No. 2-23-350, Plot No.356, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 8 G. Mohan S/o. G. Mallaiah H.No. 2-23-351/2, Plot No.361, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 9 S. Venkateswarulu S/o. Somaiah H.No. 2-23-355, Plot No.363, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 10 R. Mastan Rao S/o. Bhujanga Rao H.No. 2-23-354, Plot No.364, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 11 Ch. Praveen S/o. Ch. Rama Koteshwara Rao Plot No.367, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 12 M.V. Patil S/o. V.B. Patil H.No. 2-23-484, Plot No.377, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 13 U. Murahari Singh S/o. V. Subbu Singh H.No. 2-23-469, Plot No.379, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 14 P. Rama Sita W/o. Subrahmanyeswara Rao H.No. 2-23-362 Plot No.381, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 15 G. Vijayam S/o. P.Y. Samuel H.No. 2-23-362/A, Plot No.381/1, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 16 V. Ch. Venkata Rao S/o. V. Adruta Ramaiah H.No. 2-23-364, Plot No.383, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 17 T. Venkanna S/o. T. Appaiah H.No. 2-23-366, Plot No.385, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 18 K.L. Narasimha Rao S/o. K. Manganna Naidu H.No. 2-23-367, Plot No.386, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 19 A. Venkateswara Rao S/o. A. Narasimha Rao H.No. 2-23-368, Plot No.386/1, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 20 H. Sadasivappa S/o. H. Gangappa H.No. 2-23-370, Plot No.387, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 21 D. Sahadeva Reddy S/o. Yella Reddy H.No. 2-23-369, Plot No.387/1, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 22 G. Chakrapani S/o. G. Kattaiah H.No. 2-23-380, Plot No.397, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 23 K.N. Rani W/o. Late K. Koteswara Rao H.No. 2-23-382, Plot No.399, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 24 D. Sridevi W/o. Late D. Sudheer Reddy H.No. 2-23-385, Plot No.403/1, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 25 R. Indira W/o. Ravindranath H.No. 2-23-387, Plot No.405, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 26 B.M. Goud S/o. Papanna Goud H.No. 2-23-394, Plot No.412, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 27 G.S. Nageswara Rao S/o. Raja Gopal Rao H.No. 2-23-397, Plot No.414, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 28 M. Papayya S/o. M. Rajanna Plot No.415, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 29 R. Yadayya S/o. Balaiah H.No.2-23-404, Plot No.426, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 30 A. Adinarayana S/o. Lakshmaiah H.No.2-23-413, Plot No.432, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 31 T.K.R.K. Singh S/o. K. Bheem Singh H.No.2-23-414, Plot No.434, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 32 D. Anil Kumar S/o. Late D. Pandu Ranga Chary H.No.2-23-416, Plot No.436, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 33 S.S.R. Prasad S/o. s. Bhadriah H.No.2-23-424, Plot No.441, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 34 P. Bala Krishna S/o. P. Kurmurthy H.No.2-23-408, Plot No.450, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 35 V. Shankar S/o. Brahmaiah H.No.2-23-409, Plot No.451, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 36 A.S. Alia S/o. A. Samson H.No.2-23-437, Plot No.467, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 37 M.B.R. Prasad S/o. M.V. Narayana H.No.2-23-436, Plot No.468, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 38 K.S.R. Murthy S/o. K.R.K. Murthy H.No.2-23-451, Plot No.480, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 39 A. Kumara Swamy S/o. A. Balaiah H.No.2-23-452, Plot No.481, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 40 Sushma Naidu D/o. Late T.D. Rama Rao H.No.2-23-463, Plot No.485, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 41 M. Bhaskar Reddy S/o. Late M. Madi Reddy H.No.2-23-458, Plot No.491, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 42 R. Sudhakara Rao S/o. R. Koteshwara Rao H.No.2-23-456, Plot No.495, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 43 D. Raja Mohan S/o. D. Rama Kanth H.No. 2-23-466, Plot No.499, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 44 C. Shakuntala S/o. Late C. Balaiah H.No.2-23-467, Plot No.500, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 45 V. Sudhakar S/o. V. Mallappa H.No. 2-23-467/1, Plot No.501, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 46 G. Padmaja Rani W/o. G. Hari Babu Plot No.504, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 47 A. Ramalinga Reddy S/o. Pulla Reddy H.No.2-23-470, Plot No.505, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 48 S. Aswatha Narayana S/o. Narayanappa H.No.2-23-471, Plot No.506, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 49 K. Kishan Rao S/o. Gurunatha Rao H.No.2-23-482, Plot No.510, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 50 Md. Basheer Ahmed S/o. Md. Mazhar Hussain H.No.2-23-479, Plot No.513, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 51 V. Padma W/o. Late V. Narayana Rao, S/o. Srinivasa Rao H.No.2-23-477, Plot No.516, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 52 T.L. Venkateswara Rao S/o. T.S. Chary H.No.2-23-473, Plot No.520, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 53 S. Sita W/o. S.V. Narasimha Raju H.No.2-23-500, Plot No.531, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 54 S.K.R.K. Raju S/o. Latchi Raju H.No.2-23-500/1, Plot No.532, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 55 T. Veer Swamy S/o. T. Gattaiah H.No.2-23-502, Plot No.535, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 56 Ch. Srinivasa Chary S/o. Raghavacharyulu H.No.2-23-535/A, Plot No.535/1, Temple Priest, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 57 G. Narasimha Chary S/o. Shankara Chary H.No.2-23-503, Plot No.536, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 58 G. N. Chari S/o. Shankara Chary Plot No.537, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 59 Ch. Nagakumar S/o. Mallikarjuna Rao H.No.2-23-504, Plot No.538, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 60 M. Murali Krishan Rao S/o. Mukkanteswarudu H.No.2-23-504/1, Plot No.540, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 61 D. Narahari S/o. D. Veera Mallaiah H.No.2-23-506, Plot No.541, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 62 K. Vijaya Lakshmi W/o. K. Rama Krishna H.No.2-23-517, Plot No.553, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 63 A. Bala Narsaiah S/o. Ailaiah H.No.2-23-541, Plot No.577, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 64 Thourya S/o. B. Phool Singh H.No. 2-23-547/1, Plot No.579, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 65 M. Hanumantah Rao S/o. Raghavulu H.No.2-23-548, Plot No.580, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 66 G. Suneetha W/o. Samba Siva Rao Plot No.585, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 67 A. Padmaja Rani W/o. Basava Rao H.No.2-23-550, Plot No.589, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 68 M. Srikanth S/o. M.S. Vijendar Rao H.No.2-23-546, Plot No.590, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 69 B. Krishna Reddy S/o. Late B. Prakash Reddy H.No.2-23-542/1, Plot No.593, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 70 K.L. Mariyanna S/o. K. Showri H.No. 2-23-543, Plot No.594, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 71 D. Sudhakar Raju S/o. Chengal Raju H.No. 2-23-537, Plot No.595, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 72 D. Srinivasacharyulu S/o. Rangacharya H.No. 2-23-613, Plot No.596, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 73 R. Mohana Reddy S/o. P. Penta Reddy H.No. 2-23-558, Plot No.601, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 74 G.V.S. Bhaskara Raman S/o. G.V. Rama Rao H.No. 2-23-560, Plot No.603, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 75 Y. Venkateswara Rao S/o. Y. Subbaiah H.No. 2-23-567/1, Plot No.605, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 76 G. Narayana Swamy S/o. G. Hanumanna H.No. 2-23-567/A, Plot No.611, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 77 D. Gnaneswar S/o. Balaiah H.No. 2-23-568, Plot No.612, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 78 P. Appa Rao S/o. P. Paradesi H.No. 2-23-569, Plot No.613, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 79 U. Rama Mohana Rao S/o. Chandramouleswara Rao H.No. 2-23-572, Plot No.616, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 80 B. Guravaiah S/o. Balagurrappa H.No. 2-23-573, Plot No.617, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 81 K. Bharathi W/o. K. Amrutha Rao H.No. 2-23-577, Plot No.622, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 82 T.V. Ram Babu S/o. Srinivasa Rao H.No. 2-23-578, Plot No.623, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 83 K. Phani Kumari W/o. Siva Rama Prasad H.No. 2-23-578/2, Plot No.625, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 84 K. Ramesh S/o. K. Kishtaiah H.No. 2-23-584, Plot No.632, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 85 T. Rama Chandram S/o. T. Ramaiah H.No. 2-23-585/1, Plot No.634, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 86 C. Sivashankara Reddy S/o. Peddakota Reddy H.No. 2-23-590, Plot No.640, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 87 N.C.V.R.K. Charyulu S/o. N.C.K. Chary H.No. 2-23-647, Plot No.646, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 88 B. Ramulu S/o. Balaiah H.No. 2-23-642, Plot No.652, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 89 L.D. Prasad S/o. Purnacharyulu H.No. 2-23-639, Plot No.655, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 90 P. Sivaiah S/o. Lakshmaiah H.No. 2-23-633, Plot No.663, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 91 M. Sree Ramulu S/o. Narasimhulu H.No. 2-23-631, Plot No.665, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 92 A. Pandu Ranga Rao S/o. Dorabbai H.No. 2-23-613, Plot No.681, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 93 Ch. Swamy S/o. Yellaiah H.No. 2-23-617, Plot No.681/4, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 94 K. Venkateswara Rao S/o. China Venkanna H.No. 2-23-609/1, Plot No.688, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 95 K.B. Chary S/o. Parabrahmachary H.No. 2-23-599/1, Plot No.693, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 96 Y. Narayana S/o. Guravaiah H.No. 2-23-597, Plot No.697, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 97 T. Kameswaramma D/o. Raghavaiah H.No. 2-23-595/1, Plot No.699, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 98 S.V. Sekhara Rao S/o. Raghavaiah H.No. 2-23-595, Plot No.700, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 99 P. Anjaneyulu S/o. P. Kurumurthy H.No. 2-23-594, Plot No.701, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. 100 M. Raja Gopala Reddy S/o. Kesava Reddy H.No. 2-23-393, Plot No.702 & Plot No.705, HMT Hills, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. ..... APPELLANTS AND 1 Government of Andhra Pradesh Rep. by the Principal Secretary Revenue Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad. 2 The Special Officer and Competent Authority, Urban Land Ceiling, Hyderabad Under the Repealed Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976, Hyderabad, rep. by the Joint Collector, Hyderabad as Person- in-Charge. 3 HMT Employees Co-operative House Building Society Ltd. (TAB 126), Rep. by its President, Satish Babu, HMT Campus, Bala Nagar, Narsapur Road, Hyderabad - 500 037. 4 Adda Gutta Co-operative Housing Society, TAB No. 151, East Marredpally, Secunderabad, rep. by its Member and Secretary, B. Damodar, S/o. B. Chinnaiah, R/o. 3-4-132/1, Barkatpura, Hyderabad. .....RESPONDENTS Counsel for the Appellants: MR.M.V.DURGA PRASAD Counsel for the Respondent Nos.1 & 2: GP FOR REVENUE The Court made the following : THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE D.S.R.VARMA AND THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE G.CHANDRAIAH WRIT APPEAL No.1542 of 2008 ORAL JUDGMENT: (per the HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE D.S.R.VARMA) Heard both sides. 2. This Writ Appeal is filed assailing the interim order, dated 17.11.2008, passed by a learned single Judge of this Court, in Writ Petition No.25208 of 2008. 3. Appellants are petitioners and respondents are respondents in the said writ petition. 4. The impugned order reads as under: “Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Urban Land Ceiling requests a week’s time for filing counter-affidavit. Post on 24.11.2008 in the motion list. There shall be status quo till then. This does not, however, preclude the authorities to proceed under Section 10(5) and 10(6) of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976.” 5. The grounds on which the said writ petition was filed need not be gone into, at this stage, inasmuch as, the single Judge, while granting the said interim order, had already directed to list the said writ petition for hearing on 24.11.2008. 6. However, the appellants are aggrieved with only a portion of the said order of the learned single Judge, which reads as under: “This does not, however, preclude the authorities to proceed under Section 10(5) and 10(6) of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976. 7. It is the contention of learned counsel for the appellants that when once the Repelling Act i.e., the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Repeal Act, 1999 (Central Act 15 of 1999) (for brevity “the Repeal Act’) had been passed and admitted by the respective State Governments, including our State, all proceedings, which are mentioned in Section 4 of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976 (for brevity “the principal Act”), will stand abated. 8. For the sake of convenience and ready reference, it is apt to extract Section 4 of the Repeal Act, which is thus: “Abatement of Legal Proceedings: All proceedings relating to any order made or purported to be made under the principal Act pending immediately before the commencement of this Act, before any court, tribunal or any other authority shall abate; Provided that this section shall not apply to the proceeding relating to Sections 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the principal Act insofar as such proceedings are relatable to the land, possession of which has been taken over by the State Government or any person duly authorized by the State Government in this behalf or by the competent authority.” 9. From the above provision, it is obvious that abatement of proceedings shall not apply to the proceedings relating to Sections 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the principal Act to the extent of proceedings where the possession of the land had been taken over by the respective State Governments or by any person duly authorized by the State Government or by the competent authority. (emphasis supplied} 10. Sub-section 3 (1) (a) of Section 2 of the Repeal Act is a saving clause, which reads as under: “Repeal of Act 33 of 1976: - The Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act) is hereby repealed. 3. Saving: - (1) The repeal of the principal Act shall not affect: - (a) the vesting of any vacant land under sub- section (3) of Section 10, possession of which has been taken over by the State Government or any person duly authorized by the State Government in this behalf or by the competent authority.”. 11. The said provision further makes it clear that even if the possession of the land has been vested with the Government, under sub-section 3 of Section 10 of the principal Act, if the possession of such land has not been taken over by the Government or by any person duly authorized by the State Government or by the competent authority, such land is saved from the operation of the principal Act. 12. In this regard, it is to be seen that sub-section 3 of Section 10 of the principal Act is a deeming provision or a fictional provision, by operation of law, whereby the possession is deemed to be vested with the Government, but the actual possession has to be taken over by the Government. Therefore, there is a clear distinction between the deemed possession and the actual possession. 13. Deemed possession, in other words, is fictional, whereas the actual possession could be by virtue of further proceedings, after following the procedure, under sub- sections 5 and 6 of Section 10 of the principal Act. In other words, the actual possession can be taken over by the Government, notwithstanding the fictional possession under sub-section 3 of Section 10 of the principal Act, under sub-section 6 of Section 10 of the principal Act only. Therefore, it is that possession viz., the actual or physical possession of the land, notwithstanding such land being vested with the Government, which is saved. 14. Therefore, we are of the considered view that the impugned, order passed by the learned single Judge, to the extent where it was directed that “this does not, however, preclude the authorities to proceed under Section 10 (5) and 10 (6) of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976”, is set aside, and the remaining portion of the impugned order shall continue to be in operation, pending disposal of the said writ petition. 15. With the above modifications, the Writ Appeal is disposed of, at the stage of admission. However, there shall be no order as to costs. _____________________ JUSTICE D.S.R.VARMA ________________________ JUSTICE G.CHANDRAIAH 21st November 2008 DR .... REGISTRAR // TRUE COPY // SECTION OFFICER To 1 Government of Andhra Pradesh Rep. by the Principal Secretary Revenue Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad. 2 The Special Officer and Competent Authority, Urban Land Ceiling, Hyderabad Under the Repealed Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976, Hyderabad, rep. by the Joint Collector, Hyderabad as Person- in-Charge. 3 2 CCS to Government Pleader for Revenue, High Court Buildings, Hyderabad. (OUT) 4 2CD copies