THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY Writ Petition No.7488 of 2009 ORDER: The petitioner claims to have entered into an agreement of sale with Sri Maddella Venkanna and others on 15.02.1988 in respect of Ac.2.31 guntas of land in Survey No.103 of Danavaiahgudem Village, Khammam District. It is also stated that he is in possession and enjoyment of the property. The State of Andhra Pradesh acquired considerable extent of land in that village for the purpose of Nagarjuna Sagar Project in the year 1969. The petitioner states that the land purchased by him is not the subject matter of Award No.16 of 1973 dated 15.07.1973. He also obtained a certificate from the Special Deputy Tahsildar to the effect that the land was not acquired for the purpose of Nagarjuna Sagar Project. The petitioner claims to have submitted an application on 28.10.1995 before the respondent herein with a request to validate the transaction covered by the agreement of sale. His grievance is that no action has been taken thereon. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader for Revenue. Section 5-A of the A.P. Record of Rights in Land and Pattadar Pass Books Act (for short ‘the Act’) provides for validation of transactions, which are otherwise incomplete. There appears to be difference of opinion as to whether an agreement of sale can be the subject matter of proceedings under Section 5-A of the Act. Be that as it may, the petitioner has not placed before this Court any material to disclose that he is in possession and enjoyment of the property. The very recitals in the alleged agreement of sale as well as the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition disclose that the parties were not sure as to whether the land was acquired for the purpose of Nagarjuna Sagar Project. In case, the land was not acquired, it ought to have been recorded in the name of the petitioner or at least his vendors. Issuance of pattadar pass book is another aspect. It is not pleaded that the pattadar pass book was issued in favour of anyone as of now. At any rate, more than 14 years have elapsed ever since the petitioner submitted the application under Section 5-A of the Act. The writ petition cannot be entertained at this length of time. It is clearly barred by laches. The writ petition is accordingly dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. _________ 15.04.2009 JSU THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY Writ Petition No.7488 of 2009 Date: 15.04.2009 JSU