THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE NOUSHAD ALI CONTEMPT CASE No.420 of 2010 Date:07.03.2011 Between: Smt. Vadee Yangamma and others ..... Petitioners AND The State of Andhra Pradesh, represented by its Principal Secretary to Government Irrigation and CAD Department, Hyderabad and others .....Respondents Counsel for the Petitioners: Sri M. Subba Reddy Counsel for Respondents: Government Pleader for Command Area Development and Government Pleader for Land Acquisition The Court made the following: ORDER: This contempt case has been filed alleging disobedience of the orders of this Court in W.P.No.25513 of 2008 dated 18.03.2009. The petitioners are assignees of Government land. The said land was resumed for rehabilitation of the land oustees of Owk reservoir, vide order dated 29.07.2006. The said resumption order was challenged in the writ petition on the ground that the petitioners were not paid compensation although eligible in terms of the orders of the State Government issued in G.O.Ms.No.1307 dated 23.12.1993. This Court, while disposing of the writ petition on 18.03.2009, set aside the impugned order dated 29.07.2006 and held that the petitioners are entitled for receiving compensation/ex-gratia as a matter of right in terms of the aforesaid G.O. Complaining that the compensation has not been paid, this Contempt Case has been filed. The Revenue Divisional Officer-cum-Land Acquisition Officer, Nandyal, Kurnool District, filed a counter stating that even though the land was resumed, later it was not utilized. Therefore, the order of resumption dated 29.07.2006 was recalled restoring the possession as it existed prior to resumption. It is also stated that the said order was served on the petitioners and the petitioners are at liberty to continue cultivation of the said land. At one stage, the petitioners disputed the said fact. This Court, by order dated 26.10.2010 directed the Land Acquisition Officer to file an additional counter clarifying the allegation that a road was laid on the land of the petitioners. In pursuance of the same, the said officer has filed additional counter categorically stating that he inspected the land on 03.11.2010 along with Mandal Surveyor, Owk, Mandal Revenue Inspector, Owk and Village Revenue Officer, Cherlopalle. It was found that there are no roads laid and there are no traces of cultivation in the land and the land is still vacant. In view of the categorical statement of the Land Acquisition Officer that the land has been restored to the petitioners, I am of the view that this Contempt Case need not be taken cognisance. It is made clear that the petitioners are at liberty to occupy and undertake cultivation of the land, if they so desire. Subject to the above observations, the Contempt Case is dismissed. No costs. ________________ NOUSHAD ALI, J 07th March, 2011 GHN