THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE V. ESWARAIAH WRIT PETITION No.878 OF 2008 DATED: 23-01-2008 BETWEEN K.M.D. Shafi, S/o. Abdul Munaf, R/o.D.No.23/197, Mohammadpura Street, Rayachoty Town, Kadapa District and another. …PETITIONER AND The Revenue Divisional Officer, Kadapa Division, Kadapa, Kadapa District and another. …RESPONDENTS ORDER: Petitioner submits that the Tahsildar, Rayachoty passed order dated 16.11.2007 in Ref.No.B/386/07/A7/2007 under Section 4(1)(a) of the Andhra Pradesh Assigned Lands (Prohibition of Transfers) Act, 1977 (for short ‘the Act’) resuming the land of an extent of Ac.4.25 cents in Sy.No.512/1 of Rayachoty Village stating that the said land was originally assigned in favour of one Sri Dawood Khan and Sri Kotwal Dastagir Saab as per Khata No.677 of 10(1) record and the said land was transferred by way of sale deeds, which was subsequently purchased by the petitioner and thus, there is a violation of sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 3 of the Act. 2. Admittedly, against the said order an appeal lies to the Revenue Divisional Officer under Section 4-A(1) of the Act. Petitioner submits that he preferred an appeal along with stay application against the said order but the appellate authority/RDO has not considered and disposed the stay application. 3. I am of the opinion that when a statutory appeal is filed, it is just and proper to protect the possession of the petitioner, as it is stated that the petitioner has been in long standing possession of the said land. 4. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, the first respondent is directed to consider and dispose the appeal, if not already disposed of, as expeditiously as possible and pending disposal of the appeal status quo obtaining as on today with regard to possession shall be maintained. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. ______________ V. ESWARAIAH, J January 23, 2008 DSK