THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE RAMESH RANGANATHAN WRIT PETITION NO.26828 OF 2011 ORDER: The relief sought for in this Writ Petition is for a direction to respondents 1 to 5 to initiate proceedings for assigning the lands admeasuring Ac.34.80 cts in Sivaramapatnam village, Gokavaram Mandal, East Godavari District being the surplus land surrendered by the legal heirs of the declarants Janapareddy Peda Rajarao in LCC No.1710/RJY/1975. A consequential direction is sought to the respondents to comply with the provisions of Section 14 of the A.P. Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings) Act 1973, and Rule 10 of the Rules, selecting BCs/SCs from the villages of Sivarampatnam and Mallavaram and grant pattas in their favour. The petitioners, four in number, all belong to Mallavaram village, Gokavaram Mandal of East Godavari District. They claim that they belong to the Scheduled Castes. It is their case that, under Section 14 of the A.P. Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings) Act 1973, excess lands are required to be assigned to weaker sections and, since the petitioners belong to the weaker sections, they ought to be assigned such excess lands. A counter affidavit is filed on behalf of the 4th respondent wherein it is stated that the matter is under examination by the Assignment Committee which would, in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the assignment Rules, take an appropriate decision and prepare a list of beneficiaries to whom assignment pattas should be granted. It is further stated that the petitioners’ case would also be examined and, if they are found to be eligible, their claim would also be placed before the assignment committee for their consideration. All that is required for grant of assignment under Section 14 of the Act is that the beneficiaries should belong to the weaker sections. The respondent shall examine whether the petitioners are eligible for grant of such assignment and whether they belong to the Scheduled Castes from the same village where these excess lands are situated. In case they fulfil these requirements their claim for grant of assignment shall be considered, along with the claims of other eligible applicants, in accordance with law, and an appropriate decision shall be taken within three months from today. The decision taken by the assignment committee shall also be communicated to the petitioners. The Writ Petition stands disposed of accordingly. No costs. Date: 31.10.2011 ____________________________ RAMESH RANGANATHAN, J MRKR