IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) MONDAY, THE TWELFTH DAY OF APRIL, TWO THOUSAND TEN PRESENT: THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY WRIT PETITION Nos.2398 & 2399 of 2010 W.P.No.2398 of 2010 Between: Vaankudothu Bhaskar … Petitioner And The Govt., of A.P., rep., by its Principal Secretary, Department of Tribal Welfare, Hyderabad & others. … Respondents Counsel for the petitioner: Sri Nagsh Bheemapaka Counsel for respondents 2&3: GP for Forests This Court made the following: THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY WRIT PETITION Nos.2398 & 2399 of 2010 COMMON ORDER:- At the interlocutory stage, both the writ petitions are taken up for hearing and disposal with the consent of the learned counsel for the parties. Since the issue as to whether the land in question is private land or forest land in these writ petitions is common, they are being heard and disposed of by a common order. While the grievance of the petitioners is that the lands in question belong to them and are private lands having been purchased from their respective rightful owners, the respondents plead that the said lands form part of reserved forest notified as such as far back as the year 1954. A notification in this regard along with sketch and other material have been placed by the respondents in support of their contention. Exercising the jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, it is not possible for this Court to decide this dispute. The petitioners are, therefore, permitted to file civil suits for declaration that the lands in question are private lands and do not form part of reserved forest. To enable the petitioners to avail such a remedy, the parties are directed to maintain status quo as on today for a period of two months. Both the writ petitions are accordingly disposed of. As a sequel to disposal of the writ petitions, WPMP.No.3187 of 2010 and WVMP.No.1404 of 2010 in WP.No.2398 of 2010 and WPMP.No.3188 of 2010 and WVMP.No.1341 of 2010 in WP.No.2399 of 2010 are disposed of as infructuous. _____________________________ C.V. NAGARJUNA REDDY, J Date: 12.04.2010 ES