THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.5738 of 2009 ORDER: The father of the petitioners herein, by name, R.Krishnamurthy, was assigned an extent of Acs.4.50 cents of land in survey No.369-1 of Srikalahasti Village and Mandal, Chittoor District, in the year 1968. The petitioners state that they have succeeded to the land on the death of their father. The grievance of the petitioners is that the patta was cancelled by the Mandal Revenue Officer, Srikalahasti, the 3rd respondent, through proceedings, dated 18.12.1998, without issuing any notice and without conducting any enquiry. They allege that they came to know about the cancellation in the recent past, and challenge the proceedings, dated 18.12.1998. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned Government Pleader for Assignments. The petitioners feel aggrieved by the cancellation of patta. An order was passed in exercise of power under Section 4 of the A.P. Assigned Lands (Prohibition of Transfers) Act (for short ‘the Act’). Section 4-B of the Act provides for remedy of appeal to the Revenue Divisional Officer. The petitioners have not availed such a remedy. It is true that the period of limitation for availing that remedy is 30 days. However, if the petitioners are able to explain the delay, the appeal can certainly be entertained by the appellate authority. Much, however, would depend upon the ground that may be pleaded by the petitioners and that the truth or otherwise thereof. The petitioners cannot straight away approach this Court against the order of cancellation, that too, after a decade. Hence, the Writ Petition is disposed of, leaving it open to the petitioners to avail the remedies provided for under the Act. There shall be no order as to costs. ____________________ L.NARASIMHA REDDY, J. Dated:19.03.2009. GJ