THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE RAMESH RANGANATHAN WRIT PETITION No.22512 of 2011 ORDER: The proceedings of the second respondent dated 07.02.2009, and the consequential proceedings of the third respondent dated 10.03.2011, are under challenge, in this Writ Petition, as being illegal, arbitrary, and in violation of principles of natural justice. It is the petitioners’ case that the first petitioner’s father was the owner of an extent of Ac.12.00 of agricultural land in Sy.No.281 of Thimmapuram Village, Guntakal Mandal, Anantapur District; the husband of the fourth respondent had approached the second respondent for cancellation of the pattadar pass books issued in the petitioners’ favour; the second respondent had disposed of the appeal on 07.02.2009 on an erroneous consideration of the facts involved; the order of the second respondent dated 07.02.2009 has not been communicated to the petitioners’ so far; it was only two months ago that they came to know about the passing of the impugned order; and, therefore, they have invoked the jurisdiction of this Court. The petitioners’ grievance is that the second respondent had passed the impugned order dated 07.02.2009 without putting them on notice; without giving them an opportunity of being heard; and the said order is in violation of principles of natural justice. Sri S.D.Gowd, Learned Counsel for the petitioners, would seek to make submissions on merits but, in view of the order which this Court proposes to pass, I consider it wholly inappropriate to examine the contentions urged on merits in proceedings under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. As is evident from the order of the second respondent dated 07.02.2009, the petitioners’ have the remedy of an appeal to the Joint Collector before whom all contentions, both on merits and for violation of principles of natural justice, can as well be raised. As the petitioners have an effective alternative statutory remedy of appeal to the Joint Collector, before whom all contentions, including on the merits and for violation of principles of natural justice, can be raised I see no reason to exercise discretion under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to entertain this Writ Petition. Leaving it open to the petitioners, if they so choose, to prefer an appeal to the Joint Collector, the Writ Petition is dismissed. However, in the circumstances, without costs. RAMESH RANGANATHAN,J Date:10.08.2011 usd