IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN WEDNESDAY, THE 4TH JUNE 2008 / 14TH JYAISHTA 1930 WP(C).No. 16619 of 2008(C) -------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ NEETHA, D/O.V.M.RADHAKRISHNAN, 18/714, NINEETITA, D.P.O.ROAD, PALAKKAD. BY ADV. SRI.BINOY VASUDEVAN RESPONDENTS: ------------------ 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT, REVENUE (P) DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER, PALAKKAD. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI. I.V. PRAMOD. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ALONG WITH W.P.(C)NO.16620 OF 2008 AND W.P.(C)NO.16621 OF 2008 ON 04/06/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S. SIRI JAGAN, J. -------------------------------------- W.P.(C)Nos.16619,16620 & 16621 OF 2008 ---------------------------------------- Dated this the 4th day of June, 2008 JUDGMENT In these three writ petitions, the respective petitioners filed applications under the Kerala Land Utilisation Order seeking permission to convert wet land as dry land for the purpose of construction of houses. Their grievance is that their applications are not being accepted by the Revenue Divisional Officer on the ground that by Ext.P2, the Government has directed not to accept or consider applications under the Kerala Land Utilisation Order, since a bill for amendment of the Kerala Land Utilisation Order has been introduced in the Assembly on 19.9.2007. The petitioners seek a direction to the concerned Revenue Divisional Officers to consider the applications in accordance with law as it exists today. 2. The learned Government Pleader opposes the writ petition. He would submit that in view of Ext.P2 order of the Government, the Revenue Divisional Officer cannot consider W.P.(c)No.16619/08 & Con.cases 2 applications now. This Court has in several writ petitions held that simply on the ground that introduction of an amendment bill in the Assembly, the respondents cannot refuse to consider applications which have been filed in accordance with law as it exists. Therefore, I am satisfied that the Revenue Divisional Officer concerned is bound to consider the applications submitted by the petitioners under the Kerala Land Utilisation Order. Accordingly, these writ petitions are disposed of with a direction to the concerned Revenue Divisional Officer to accept, consider and pass orders on the original of Ext.P1 applications, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. The petitioners are directed to resubmit the applications along with a certified copy of this judgment before the Revenue Divisional Officer, Palakkad within a period of two weeks for the purpose. S. SIRI JAGAN, JUDGE Acd W.P.(c)No.16619/08 & Con.cases 3