THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY, THE TWENTY SIXTH DAY OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND AND FOUR PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE V.V.S.RAO WRIT PETITION Nos: 25531 & 25532 of 2002 W.P.No.25531 of 2002 Between: 1 Sawnly Primary Agricultural Co-operative Society, Sawnly, Kubeer Mandal,Adilabad district, rep. by its Secretary K.Venkat Swamy S/o. Doddanna agee 48 yrs, r/o. Sawnly, Adilabad District. 2 Adilabad DCCB, Bhainsa Branch, rep. by its Manager P.Sesha Rao. S/o.Ganapathi Rao r/o. Bhainsa, Adilabad District. ..... PETITIONERS AND 1 Land Acquisition Officer/Revenue Divisional Officer, Nirmal, Adilabad District. 2 State Bank of Hyderabad, Bhainsa Branch, Mahatma Gandhi Gunj, Market Yards, Bhainsa, Adilabad Dist. 3 Madul Sing s/o. Ramsing r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 4 Vitabai S/o. Ganganna r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 5 Tulsidas s/o. Thukaram r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 6 Balajee s/o. Gangaramsingh r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 7 Chinanaga Rao s/o. Pothaje r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 8 Sayanna S/o. Lalu r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 9 Gangadar s/o. Sambaje r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 10 Sayabu s/o. Ganga r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 11 Bhojanna s/o. Yellanna r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 12 Peddanag Rao S/o. Pothaje r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 13 Yellappa S/o. Ganganna r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 14 Bhojanna s/o. Nag Rao r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 15 Shanker s/o. Jamuna r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 16 Ganga s/o. Dondiba r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 17 Abaje s/o. Pothaje r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 18 Ananda s/o. Shettappa r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 19 Kamlaker s/o. Narsimhulu r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 20 Poshetty S/o. Yellanna r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 21 Bhoja Ram s/o. Lingaram r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 22 Ramulu S/o. Poshetty r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 23 Nageswar s/o. Kasinath r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 24 Narasimha s/o. Kasinath r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 25 Sri Ramulu S/o. Ganganna r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 26 Bhojanna s/o. Narsimha r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 27 Maik s/o. Narasimha r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 28 Chinanna s/o. Laxmanna r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 29 Pothanna s/o. Laxmanna r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 30 Ganga Ram s/o. Poshetty r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 31 Bakkama W/o. Pothaje r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 32 Kaja Miya s/o. Abdul Karim r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 33 Gangadhar S/o. Somanna r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 34 Ganganna s/o. Bakanna r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 35 Sayanna s/o. Bakkanna r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 36 Devamma W/o. Chinanna r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 37 Narsing s/o. Peroje r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 38 Maruthi s/o. Ganganna r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 39 Shankarappa s/o. Gangaram r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 40 Gopat Rao s/o. Nag Rao r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 41 Darma Bai W/o. Pothaje r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 42 Venkateswar s/o. Donduparth r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 43 Ramakanth s/o. Donduparth r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 44 Nagnath s/o. Donduparth r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 45 Ganpathi Rao s/o. Maruthi Rao r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 46 Devamma W/o. Ganganna r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. 47 Satyanarayana s/o. Gangaram r/o. Kubeer Mandal, Adilabad District. .....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 Writ, Order or Direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of "Mandamus" declaring the action of the 1st respondent in not referring the case in his proceedings No.B6/3554/2001 under Section 30 of Land Acquisition Act and in seeking to make payments to respondents 3 to 47 in respect of their lands acquired for Suddavagu Project, Bhainsa, Adilabad District as being illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional and violative of the procedures under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and consequently direct the 1st respondent to refer the matter to the jurisdiction of the Civil Court under Section 30 & 31 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. WRIT PETITION NO : 25532 of 2002 Between: 1 Mirzapur Primary Agricultural Co-operative Society, Mirzapur, Bhainsa Mandal, Adilabad district, rep. by its Secretary Narasimhulu, S/o. Shivanna r/o. Bhainsa, Adilabad District. 2 Adilabad DCCB, Bhainsa Branch, rep. By its Manager P.Sesha Rao. S/o.Ganapathi Rao r/o. Bhainsa, Adilabad District. ….. PETITIONERS AND 1. Land Acquisition Officer/Revenue Divisional Officer, Nirmal, Adilabad District. 2. State Bank of Hyderabad, Bhainsa Branch, Mahatma Gandhi Gunj, Market Yards, Bhainsa, Adilabad District. 3. Shanker S/o. Tulsiram 4. Gangadhar S/o. Sadashiv 5. Narayana S/o. Vishwanath 6. Balajee S/o. Ganpathi 7. Lingram S/o. Ganpathi 8. Gangadhar S/o. Chinnanna 9. Rameshwar S/o. Tulsiram. 10. Digamber S/o. Kishan Rao 11. Girijabai W/o. Ram Rao 12. Madhava Rao S/o. Ram Rao 13. Govind Rao S/o. Babu 14. Bhojanna S/o.Poshetty 15. Narayan S/o. Sayanna 16. Naganath S/o. Sayanna 17. Rajappa S/o. Ganpathi 18. Ramdass S/o. Sayanna 19. Ganga Bai w/o. Gangaram 20. Pundalik S/o. Gangaram 21. Narayan S/o. Gangaram 22. Vitthal S/o.Gangaram 23. Fakeer Mohd S/o. Nawab Sab 24. Immam Sab S/o. Nawab Sab 25. Manik S/o. Bapu Rao 26. Lal Mohammed S/o. Gulab Sab 27. Shaik Ahmed S/o. Nawab Sab 28. Gangiah S/o. Peeraiah 29. G. Rajanna S/o. Babanna 30. Shesabai W/o. Laxman 31. Madhav S/o. Lachaiah 32. Gangadhar S/o. Marribba 33. Madhav S/o. Marriba 34. Gangaram S/o. Adellu 35. Pothajee S/o. Adellu 36. Ramulu S/o. Adellu 37. Mahboob Sab S/o. Nawab Sab 38. Gangia S/o. Dunria 39. Suresh S/o. Marrya 40. Vittiya S/o. Gangai 41. Hussain S/o. Moulana 42. Laxman S/o. Dunria 43. Erwantha S/o. Peerajee 44. Sampath S/o. Shanker 45. Babu S/o. Shanker 46. Narayan S/o. Bapu Rao 47. Muthanna S/o. Bhumanna 48. Gangadhar S/o. Bhumanna 49. Pochabai W/o. Sambia 50. Mahboob Miya S/o. Hajimiya 51. Amritha S/o. Gangaiah 52. Pundalik S/o. Laxis 53. Haji Sab S/o. Nawab Sab 54. Amria S/o. Bhuma 55. Ambai W/o. Duganbar 56. Jalba S/o. Peerajee 57. Sainath S/o. Shanker 58. Jamal S/o. Moulana 59. Amria S/o. Moulana 60. Vishwanath S/o. Gangia 61. Mahadia S/o. Gangia 62. Mallamma W/o. Laxman 63. Babu S/o. Mallanna 64. Pandurang S/o. Ramchander 65. Kalojee S/o. Ramchander 66. Gangaiah S/o. Santaiah 67. Ganga Bai W/o. Bhojanna 68. Shyam Rao S/o. Govind Rao 69. Anand Rao S/o. Govind Rao 70. Krishan Rao S/o. Govind Rao 71. Chandra Bai W/o. Dev Rao 72. Vitthoba W/o. Hanmanthu 73. Shivajee S/o. Vitthal 74. Gangia s/o. Ambia 75. Shakuntala Bai W/o. Ganpathi 76. Dattaram S/o. Mohanajee 77. Digamber S/o. Madhav Rao 78. Madhav Rao S/o. Shyam Rao 79. Sainath S/o. Ganpathi Rao 80. Gangaram S/o. Vitthoba 81. Prakash S/o. Pundalik 82. Gangadhar S/o. Vitthal 83. Vitthoba S/o. Danojee 84. Adella S/o. Bojaram 85. Malik Ahmed s/o. Dow Sab 86. Dattaram S/o. Laxman 87. Pundalik S.o. Vitthal 88. Savitribai W/o. Vitthal 89. Dattatrey S/o. Vitthal 90. Vijay Kumar S/o. Vithal 91. Raju S/o. Kiasiram 92. Mahender S/o. Kasiram 93. Bhan Singh S/o. Mohanlal 94. Azeez Ahmed S/o. Ahmed Hussain 95. Shanker lal S/o.Mohanlal 96. Rajeshwar S/o. Vithal 97. Ali Khan S/o. Hussain Khan 98. Jamuna Bai W/o. Madanlal 99. Digamber Dev S/o. Venkatesh Dev 100. Dropathi Bai W/o. Maruthi 101. Govind Rao S/o. Krishnajee 102. Gangaram S/o. Gangaram 103. Babu S/o. Bapu Rao 104. Tukaram S/o. Ganpathi 105. Yamuna Bai W/o. Kishan Rao 106. Maruthi S/o. Parbanna 107. Gangaram S/o. Gopal 108. Peerajee S/o. Hanumanth Rao 109. Dattaram S/o. Bapu Rao 110. Naga S/o. Mahadia 111. Sainath S/o. Babu Rao 112. Hanmanth Rao S/o. Peerahjee 113. Sainath S/o. Pshetty 114. Kishan S/o. Poshetty 115. Babu Rao S/o. Amrutha 116. Maisa S/o. Gangaiah 117. Jamal Saab S/o. Nattad (respondents 3 to 117 are R/o. Mirzapur Bhainsa Mandal, Adilabad District.) .....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 Writ, Order or Direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of "Mandamus" declaring the action of the 1st respondent in not referring the case in his proceedings No.B6/3554/2001 under Section 30 of Land Acquisition Act and in seeking to make payments to respondents 3 to 117 in respect of their lands acquired for Suddavagu Project, Bhainsa, Adilabad District as being illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional and violative of the procedures under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and consequently direct the 1st respondent to refer the matter to the jurisdiction of the Civil Court under Section 30 & 31 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. Counsel for the Petitioners: MR.S.NIRANJAN REDDY (in both the writ petitions) Counsel for Respondent Nos.1&2: GP FOR LAND ACQUISITION (in both the writ petitions) The Court made the following COMMON ORDER: The Government of Andhra Pradesh proposed to acquire huge extent of land for Suddavagu Project, Bhainsa Mandal, Adilabad District. The land to be acquired includes the land owned by respondents 3 to 47 in W.P.No.25531 of 2002 filed by the Sawnly Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (SPACS), and Adilabad District Cooperative Central Bank (DCDB) and the land owned by respondent 3 to 117 in W.P.No.25532 of 2002 filed by Mirzapur Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (MPACS), and Adilabad DCCB. Both the PACSs along with Adilabad DCCB filed these two writ petitions praying for a Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the first respondent in not referring the dispute under Section 30 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for short ‘the Act’) as illegal and for consequential direction to refer the matter to Civil Court. They also seek declaration that the action of the first respondent in seeking to make payments to the landowners is illegal and arbitrary. It is the case of the PACSs that all the landowners, who are the respondents, have availed farm loans duly mortgaging the land owned by them to secure debt and that as per Section 73 (2) of the Transfer of Property Act, 1854 when the land is mortgaged, the Land Acquisition Officer has to pay the compensation to mortgagee. This Court admitted the writ petitions on 26-12-2002 and on 23-1-2003 passed interim order in WPMP No.32241 of 2002 directing respondents 1 and 2 not to release any amount to the landowners. The State Bank of Hyderabad, which was allegedly having the amounts deposited by the Land Acquisition Officer, has now come forward with applications for vacating the interim order contending that in the absence of proper particulars being given in respect of the landowners, it is not possible to strictly comply with the orders of this court. Be that as it is, when the matter was heard at that stage, the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue (LA) brought to my notice – counter affidavit is filed in W.P.No.25531 of 2002 to that effect; that the first respondent has not passed any orders and the land acquisition proceedings are at the stage of holding enquiry. Therefore, this court holds that the writ petition is filed on a mere apprehension by the PACSs and Adilabad DCCB without first approaching the first respondent. If the PACSs hold valid mortgage as on the date of issue of notification under Section 4(1) of the Act, it shall be open to the respective primary societies to approach the Land Acquisition Officer, Nirmal claiming their rights. If the amounts claimed by the petitioner societies are disputed by the landowners, the matter may be referred to the Civil Court for orders under Section 30 of the Act. In these writ petitions no relief, as prayed, can be granted. The writ petition, with the above observations, are accordingly disposed of. No costs. _____________________ V.V.S. RAO, J. 26th August, 2004 Js ASSISTANT REGISTRAR // TRUE COPY // SECTION OFFICER To 1. Land Acquisition Officer/Revenue Divisional Officer, Nirmal, Adilabad District. 2. State Bank of Hyderabad, Bhainsa Branch, Mahatma Gandhi Gunj, Market Yards, Bhainsa, Adilabad District. 3. 2 CCs to G.P. for Land Acquisition, High court Buildings, Hyderabad. (OUT) 4. 2 CD copies.