THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION Nos.16890, 16917 and 16919 of 2008 COMMON ORDER: The petitioners were granted leases over various extents of land in Ryali Village, Atreyapuram Mandal, East Godavari District, owned by Sri Umakamandaleswara Swamy Temple (for short ‘the Temple’). The petitioners made an endeavour to get themselves declared as landless poor, in terms of Section 82 of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act 30 of 1987. However, their steps could not fructify. The Temple is said to have resumed possession of the land and issued notice, dated 27.07.2008, proposing to conduct auction for grant of leasehold rights, on 06.08.2008. The petitioners feel aggrieved by the steps taken by the respondents. They plead that there are standing crops over the land and they were not even permitted to harvest, much less, were paid compensation for the expenditure incurred for raising the crops. The respondents ﬁled a counter-aﬃdavit, opposing the plea of the petitioners. It is stated that the possession of the lands was taken and auction was also conducted, in accordance with the prescribed procedure. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners, the learned Government Pleader for Endowments for respondents 1 and 2 and the learned Standing Counsel for the Temple. Irrespective of the tenure and nature of the leases in favour of the petitioners, they stood terminated by operation of Section 82 of Act 30 of 1987. The said provision conferred certain limited rights in favour of the persons, who are declared as landless poor. The petitioners, no doubt, made an eﬀort to get themselves declared as landless poor, but their application was rejected by the Assistant Commissioner of Endowments as well as the appellate authority. Therefore, the petitioners did not hold any right to continue in possession of the land with the termination of the leases. In that view of the matter, it cannot be said that there was any illegality on the part of the Temple in resuming possession of the land. The record discloses that the leasehold rights have since been put to auction. The petitioners state that in some cases, plantain crop is ready for harvesting and in other cases, paddy crop was raised by the time, the possession was resumed. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, the writ petitions are disposed of, upholding the action of the respondents in resuming possession of the land as well as conducting the auction for grant of leasehold rights, but directing that the petitioners shall be entitled to harvest the crop, if any, existing over the land, within one week from today under the supervision of the Manager of the Temple. They shall also be entitled to remove the implements or machinery, if any installed, by them with due intimation and under proper receipt from the Manager. There shall be no order as to costs. __________________ L.NARASIMHA REDDY,J Dt:18.09.2008 Note: Issue cc by 20.09.08. (B/o) kdl