THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.23964 of 2008 ORDER: The petitioner is the owner of 40 acres of land in survey No.454/1 of Katrenipadu Village, Musunuru Mandal, Krishna District. It was part of an old Zamindari and the petitioner is said to have purchased the same in the year 1943 from the Zamindar. The Government of A.P., in its Forest Department, issued a notification under Section 4 of the A.P. Forest Act, 1967 (for short ‘the Act’), proposing to constitute a Reserve Forest, over the land of the petitioner. It is stated that, after holding enquiry into the matter, the Forest Settlement Officer, Nellore (FSO), passed an order, on 24.06.1995, holding that the notified land is private patta owned by the petitioner. The petitioner submitted applications on 16.10.2006 and 19.11.2006, before the Tahsildar, Musunuru, the 3rd respondent herein, with a request to issue pattadar pass books in respect of the land. The 3rd respondent made an endorsement dated 30.12.2006, stating that the award dated 24.06.1995, said to have been passed by the FSO, is not available on record, and thereby, it is presumed that the one relied upon by the petitioner is fabricated. By taking the plea that the land is covered by notification under Section 4 of the Act, the 3rd respondent refused to issue pattadar pass book and title deeds to the petitioner. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner filed a revision under Section 9 of the Act, before the Joint Collector, Krishna, the 1st respondent herein. The revision was dismissed on 31.08.2008. The same is challenged in this Writ Petition. Heard Sri L.Prabhakar Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioner, and learned Government Pleader for Revenue. The petitioner claims that she acquired rights over 40 acres of land, way back in the year 1943 from the erstwhile Zamindar. It is matter of record that a notification under Section 4 of the Act, and thereafter, the one under Section 6 were issued, in respect of the land. The FSO is conferred with the power to determine the claims of various individuals, vis-à-vis the notified lands. The petitioner approached this Court by filing W.P.Nos.1957 of 1991 and 16363 of 1992 etc., complaining that the enquiry was not proceeded with by the FSO. The petitioner pleads that, acting in pursuance of the directions issued by this Court in various proceedings, the FSO passed an order dated 24.06.1995, upholding her claim. On the strength of the said order, she approached the 3rd respondent, with a request to issue pattadar pass book and title deeds. The 3rd respondent made the impugned endorsement, dated 30.10.2006, stating that the award No.183/1991-B, dated 24.06.1995, is not genuine and on the other hand, it is fabricated and forged. In the revision, the Joint Collector undertook correspondence with the office of the FSO. It was mentioned that vide their letter, dated 11.12.2006, the office of the FSO has notified that no award was passed in favour of the petitioner. When such a serious doubt exists, as to the very genuinity of the award relied upon by the petitioner, the 3rd respondent cannot be expected to accede to the request of the petitioner. Necessary steps are to be taken by the petitioner to establish that an award was passed in her favour by the FSO. The petitioner can make an application for certified copy of the award and as and when a copy is furnished to her, she can renew her request before the 3rd respondent. In such an event, various observations made in the impugned proceedings cannot be treated as obstacles. For the foregoing reasons, the Writ Petition is disposed of, leaving it open to the petitioner to obtain a certified copy of the award said to have been passed in her favour from the office of FSO, and thereafter, file an application before the 3rd respondent. It is also directed that as and when such an application is filed, enclosing the certified copy of the award, the 3rd respondent shall take necessary steps, uninfluenced by any observations made in the impugned endorsement or the order passed by the 1st respondent on 31.08.2008. There shall be no order as to costs. ____________________ L.NARASIMHA REDDY, J. Dated:01.04.2009. GJ