IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) WEDNESDAY, THE TWENTY FIFTH DAY OF NOVEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND NINE PRESENT THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE C.V.RAMULU WRIT PETITION NO : 24942 of 2009 Between: Khammampati Bikshmaiah @ Bikshalu S/o.Late Venkatappaiah Road No.3, Santinagar, Madhira Road Kallur village & Mandal Khammam District ..... PETITIONER AND 1 Government of Andhra Pradesh, rep.by its Principal Secretary Revenue, SEcretariat, Hyderabad 2 The District Collector, Khammam District,Khammam 3 The Tahsildar, Kallur Mandal, Kallur,Khammam District .....RESPONDENT(S) 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 pass an order direction or a writ more particularly one in the nature of writ of Mandmaus declaring the inaction of the respondent authorities in issuing the pahanis for S.No.545/Roo/roo of Kallur revenue village,Kallur Mandal,as illegal, arbitrary, and contrary to the provisions of the AP Rights in Land and Pattedar Act and the rules thereunder. Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.D.JAIPAL REDDY Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR REVENUE The Court made the following : THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE C.V. RAMULU W.P. No. 24942 of 2009 O R D E R: This writ petition is filed seeking a Mandamus declaring the action of respondents in not issuing the pahanies for Sy.No.545/Roo/Roo of Kallur Revenue village and Mandal, Khammam District as arbitrary and illegal. According to the petitioner, he is the owner and possessor of the land in Sy.No.545/Roo/Roo of Kalluru village and Mandal, Khammam District and he has been in continuous possession and enjoyment of the same till date. Therefore, he made an application for supplying certified copies of pahanies of the said land for the years 1958- 59 to 2008-09 on 26.8.2009 before 3rd respondent. It is the contention of the petitioner that they are the public documents and, therefore, they cannot be withheld when certified copies of the same are asked for, on payment of usual charges. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that under Section 76 of the Evidence Act and Clauses 173 to 183 of the Board Standing Orders, the owner of the land is entitled for certified copies of the revenue records, including pahanies. However, learned Government Pleader, on instructions, submitted that the land in question is a Government land, therefore, the petitioner is not entitled for certified copies of pahanies. This argument of the learned Government Pleader cannot be countenanced. Once the document is a public document, the petitioner is entitled for certified copy of the same – whether it is Government land or otherwise. Under those circumstances, the respondents are directed to furnish certified copies of the pahanies in respect of the land in Sy.No.545/Roo/Roo of Kallur Revenue village and Mandal, Khammam District, for the years 1958-59 to 2008-09, on payment of usual charges, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. However, since the petitioner is claiming that he is the owner and possessor of the land in Sy.No.545/Roo/Roo of Kallur Revenue village and Mandal, the petitioner is required to prove his title etc., if any necessary. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of. No order as to costs. JUSTICE C.V. RAMULU. Date: 25-11-2009. MVB.