IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE NINETEENTH DAY OF JULY TWO THOUSAND AND FIVE PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S.ANANDA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO : 15278 of 2005 Between: K. Ranga Reddy, S/o. Narasimha Reddy, R/o. 2-1-500, Gopalpuram Cross Roads, Hanamkonda, Warangal District. ..... PETITIONER AND 1 The District Collector, Karimnagar District. 2 The Revenue Divisional Officer, Peddapalli, Karimnagar District. 3 The Mandal Revenue Officer, Peddapalli Mandal, Karimnagar District. 4 Assistant Commissioner of Endowments, Karimnagar, Karimnagar District. 5 Sri Kanduri Ramachandrachary, S/o. Kanduri Seshachari, Sri Venugopalaswamy Temple, Meredugonda Village, Peddapalli Mandal, Karimnagar District. .....RESPONDENTS 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 issue an appropriate Writ, order or direction, more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the action of the respondents in not considering the representations and in not initiating any action by the respondents 1 to against the persons who are selling away the properties belonging to the Sri Venugopalaswamy Temple even after finding that the lands situate in S.Nos. 64, 72, 130, 123/2, 134/1, 133/2, 279 and 678 to an extent of Ac. 3-12, 0.39, 1-18, 0-16, 0-36,0-16. 5-14 and 9- 32 of Maredugonda Village, Peddapuram Mandal, Karimnagar District as being illegal, arbitrary, and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India, belonging to the temple besides principles of promissory estoppel. Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.P.HEMACHANDRA Counsel for the Respondent Nos.1 to 3: GP FOR REVENUE Counsel for the Respondent No.4: G.P. FOR ENDOWMENTS The Court made the following : ORAL ORDER: This writ petition is filed by the petitioner aggrieved by the inaction of the respondents 1 to 4 in taking any action against the persons who are selling away the properties belonging to Sri Venugopalaswamy Temple situated at Maredugonda village, Peddapuram Mandal, Karimnagar District in respect of the lands situated in S.Nos.64, 72, 130, 123/2, 134/1, 133/2, 279 and 678 to an extent of Ac.3.12, 0.39, 1.18, 0.16, 0.36, 0.16, 5.14 and Ac.9.32 cents. It is stated that the 5th respondent who is Purohit or Pujari of Sri Venugopalaswamy Temple has alienated the lands situated in the above referred survey numbers without the authority of law. Therefore, the petitioner made representations to the respondents 1 to 4, but they did not take any action. The petitioner also filed a copy of the letter of the 2nd respondent-Revenue Divisional Officer, Pedapalli, dated 25.4.2001 addressed to the 3rd respondent directing him to conduct necessary enquiry with reference to the lands of Sri Venugopalaswamy Temple wherein it is referred that the Pujari sold away the lands belonging to the Temple to private persons and sought for a report. Therefore, it would be appropriate to direct the respondents 1 to 4 to take appropriate action not only against the 5th respondent but also to get set aside the sales and for restoration of the lands to the temple. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader for Endowments. The petitioner has come up in this writ petition on the ground that the respondents 1 to 4 did not take any action even though a complaint was lodged stating that the lands belonging to Sri Venugopalaswamy Temple were alienated by the 5th respondent, who was the Pujari of the said temple, without the authority of law. In fact, a copy of the letter of the 2nd respondent addressed to the 3rd respondent supports the contention of the petitioner. Therefore, it would be proper and just for the respondents 1 to 4 to take appropriate action. As it is claimed that the lands belong to the temple, it is appropriate to the 4th respondent to make necessary enquiry and submit a report to the Commissioner of Endowments for taking appropriate action not only for cancellation of the sale deeds but also for restoration of the lands of the temple in question. Accordingly, the 4th respondent is directed to enquire into the matter as to the allegations made against the 5th respondent and submit a report to the Commissioner of Endowments, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Even if no such report is submitted by the 4th respondent, the Commissioner of Endowments is directed to look into the matter and take appropriate action. With the above direction, the writ petition is disposed of. No order as to costs. _____________________ (S. ANANDA REDDY, J) 19th July, 2005 bcj To 1 The District Collector, Karimnagar District. 2 The Revenue Divisional Officer, Peddapalli, Karimnagar District. 3 The Mandal Revenue Officer, Peddapalli Mandal, Karimnagar District. 4 Assistant Commissioner of Endowments, Karimnagar, Karimnagar District. 5 Two C.Cs. to the Government Pleader for Revenue, High Court Buildings, Hyderabad (OUT) 6 Two C.Cs. to the Government Pleader for Endowments, High Court Buildings, Hyderabad (OUT) 7 Two C.D. copies. 8 The Commissioner of Endowments, A.P., Hyderabad