IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) WEDNESDAY, THE TWENTY FIFTH DAY OF JUNE, TWO THOUSAND EIGHT ONLY PRESENT: THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.16087 of 2005 Between: Smt. Pulli Gangavva & another. … Petitioners AND The District Collector, Nizamabad District & others. … Respondents Counsel for the petitioners : Sri H. Yogesh Kumar for Sri Vijay Kumar Heroor Counsel for the respondents: AGP for Irrigation This Court made the following: THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.16087 of 2005 ORDER:- This writ petition is filed for a writ of Mandamus to direct the respondents to pay compensation in respect of Ac.4.18 guntas comprised in Sy.No.103 of Vallabhnagar and Ac.0.33 guntas in Sy.No.216 of Ethonda Village, Kotagir Mandal, Nizamabad District. Heard Sri Yogesh representing Sri Vijay Kumar Heroor, learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Irrigation. In the counter affidavit filed by respondent No.3 on 18.11.2005, it is admitted that the total extent of Ac.22.08 guntas, which includes the petitioners’ land, was utilized in connection with an irrigation work, that the Revenue Divisional Officer, Bodhan division requested respondent No.3 to send DN and DD proposals to the Government, that accordingly the office of respondent No.3 addressed letter dated 01.01.2002 to the Superintending Engineer, Irrigation Circle No.3, Nizamabad to get the LOC of Rs.11.544 lakhs from the Engineer-in-Chief, Errummanzil. It is further stated that the Superintending Engineer addressed a letter to the Engineer-in-Chief to release the LOC of Rs.11.544 lakhs, which includes the compensation payable to the petitioners in respect of their lands in question. Respondent No.3 sought to explain the delay by stating that the same was due to the change of estimate rates. Ultimately, it was undertaken that immediately after sanction of LOC, payment will be made and process will be completed within a maximum period of six months. Though more than 2½ years elapsed since the date of filing the counter affidavit, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Irrigation is unable to say whether payment is made to the petitioners or not. Under these circumstances, the writ petition is allowed. The respondents are directed to pay the appropriate compensation to the petitioners in respect of the lands utilized for irrigation work and as undertaken by respondent No.3 in his counter affidavit, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. If this order is not complied with, the petitioners shall be free to initiate appropriate proceedings under the provisions of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. As a sequel to disposal of the writ petition in the manner indicated above, WPMP.No.20424 of 2005 filed by the petitioners for interim relief is disposed of as infructuous. ____________________________ C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY, J Date: 25.06.2008 ES