Divakaran v. The Village Officer, Purakkadi

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

PRESENT:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.R.RAMACHANDRA MENON FRIDAY, THE 10TH DAY OF APRIL 2015/20TH CHAITHRA, 1937 PETITIONER(S):

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1. DIVAKARAN, S/O. KRISHNAN NAIR, NHARAKKATTIL HOUSE, MYLAMBADY P.O. MEENANGADI - 673 591, SULTHAN BATHERI TALUK.

2. KABEER, S/O. MUHAMMED, VAYAMBALATH HOUSE MAYANAD P.O - 673 008, CHELAVOOR VILLAGE KOZHIKODE TALUK.

3. VARKEY, S/O. KORA, MULLASSERIL HOUSE, KUMBALERI P.O - 673 591 KRISHNAGIRI AMSOM, CHEENGERI DESOM SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.

4. BALAN V, S/O. KUNHIRAMAN NAIR, VALIYAVATTAM HOUSE NENMENI P.O - 673 592, NENMENI AMSOM DESOM SULTHAN BATHERI TALUK.

5. SHEEBA REJI, W/O. REJI, MADATHIL HOUSE, MEENANGADI P.O - 673 591 SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.

6. REJI, S/O. KURIAKOSE, THEKKEVARAPPOTHUKUZHI MEENANGADI P.O - 673 592, PRAKKADI AMSOM DESOM SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.

7. FR.REJI PAUL S/O. POULOSE, CHAVARPPANAL HOUSE VAZHAVATTA P.O - 673 122, MANDAD, MUTTIL AMSOM DESOM VYTHIRI TALUK.

8. SINI W/O. FR. REJI PAUL, CHAVARPPANAL HOUSE VAZHAVATTA P.O - 673 122, MANDAD, MUTTIL AMSOM DESOM VYTHIRI TALUK.

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9. ALEX MATHEW, S/O. MATHEW, EANGAPPALLIL HOUSE NARIKKUNDU P.O - 673 593, AMBALAVAYAL AMSOM DESOM SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.

10. BIJI, D/O. GANGADHARAN, USHAS HOUSE, MEENANGADI P.O - 673 592, PRAKKADI AMSOM DESOM SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.

11. VINOD, S/O. VELAYUDHAN, PUTHIYOTTIL HOUSE KALLURUTTY P.O - 673 603, NEELESWARAM VILLAGE KOZHIKODE TALUK.

12. ANIL, S/O. UNNIKRISHNAN NAIR, PARATHANANTHU HOUSE KAKKAVAYAL P.O - 673 122, MUTTIL SOUTH AMSOM DESOM VYTHIRI TALUK.

13. A.J.KURIAKOSE, S/O. ITTOOPPU, AADUKALIL HOUSE, KARACHAL P.O - 673 591 KOLIMOOLAKUNNU, AMBALAVAYAL AMSOM DESOM SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.

14. M.GANGADHARAN S/O. GOPALAN, USHAS HOUSE, MEENANGADI P.O - 673 591 PURAKKADI AMSOM DESOM, SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.

15. ABRAHAM P.I, S/O. ISAC, PAREKKATTIL HOUSE, KUMBALERI P.O - 673 591 AMBALAVAYAL AMSOM DESOM, SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.

16. REENA K.K, W/O. SURESH KUMAR, NHAREKKATTIL HOUSE, MYLAMBADI P.O. MEENANGADI, PURAKKADI AMSOM DESOM SULTHAN BATHERI TALUK.

17. SURESH KUMAR, S/O. BHASKARAN, NHAREKATTIL HOUSE, MYLAMBADI P.O., MEENANGADI PURAKKADI AMSOM DESOM, SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.

18. AJI T. ABRAHAM, S/O. ABRAHAM, THANDEKKATTU HOUSE KUMBALERI P.O - 673 591, KRISHNAGIRI AMSOM CHEENGERI DESOM, SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.

19. CHERIYAN DANIEL S/O. DANIYEL, MALAVILAPADITTETHIL HOUSE VETTIYAAR P.O - 690 557, VETTIYAR VILLAGE MAVELIKKARA TALUK.

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20. SAJI T.V S/O. VARGHESE, THAZHATHEKUDI HOUSE MYLAMBADI P.O - 673 591, MEENANGADI PURAKKADI AMSOM DESOM, SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.

21. KALYANA SUNDARI THOMAS, W/O. CHACKO THOMAS REMYA JEEVAN CO-OPERATIVE HOUSING SOCIETY NO.13 ANDHERI EAST P.O., MAHAKALI CAVES ROAD ANDHERI EAST VILLAGE, MUMBAI - 400 093.

22. ROY S/O. PATHROSE, MUNDAKKAL HOUSE KRISHNAGIRI P.O. - 673 591, MEENANAGADI KRISHNAGIRI AMSOM, CHEENGERI DESOM SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.

BY ADVS.DR.GEORGE ABRAHAM SRI.LINDONS C.DAVIS RESPONDENT(S):

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1. THE VILLAGE OFFICER, PURAKKADI VILLAGE - 673 121.

2. THE TAHSILDAR SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK, WAYANAD DISTRICT - 673 592.

3. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR WAYANAD - 673 121

4. THE STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT REVENUE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001.

5. THE LAND REVENUE COMMISSIONER THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001.

BY SENIOR GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.JOSEPH GEORGE THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 10-04-2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

APPENDIX PETITIONER(S)' EXHIBITS ------------------------------------- P1 - TRUE COPYOF THE TITLE DEED DT. 16.1.10 OF THE 1ST PETITIONER. P2 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 04.9.12 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 1ST PETITIONER.

P3 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 17.9.10 OF THE 2ND PETITIONER. P4 - TRUE COPY FO THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 12.6.13 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 2ND PETITIONER.

P5 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 30.4.10 OF THE 3RD PETITIONER. P6 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 17.10.12 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 3RD PETITIONER.

P7 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 19.6.09 OF THE 4TH PETITIONER. P8 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 16.7.11 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 4TH PETITIONER.

P9 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT.17.9.10 OF THE 5TH PETITIONER. P10 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 25.9.14 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 5TH PETITIONER.

P11 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 01.10.09 OF THE 6TH PETITIONER. P12 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 12.9.09 OF THE 6TH PETITIONER. P13 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND RECEIPT DT. 19.10.13 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 6TH PETITIONER.

P14 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 28.3.11 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 7TH & 8TH PETITIONERS.

P15 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 11.12.14 ISSUED IN FAVUR OF THE 7TH & 8TH.

P16 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 20.10.09 OF THE 9TH PETITIONER. P17 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 16.8.14 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 9TH PETITIONER.

P18 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 29.10.11 OF THE 10TH PETITIONER. P19 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 26.7.12 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 10 TH PETITIONER.

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P20 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 20.10.09 OF THE 11TH PETITIONER. P21 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 16.5.14 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 11TH PETITIONER.

P22 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 15.1.10 OF THE 12TH PETITIONER. P23 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 08.10.13 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 12TH PETITIONER.

P24 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 28.3.11 OF THE 13TH PETITIONER. P25 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 22.9.12 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 13TH PETITIONER.

P26 - TRUE CPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 29.10.11 OF THE 14TH PETITIONER. P27 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 27.7.12 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 14TH PETITIONER.

P28 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 07.3.12 OF THE 15TH PETITIONER. P29 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 20.4.13 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 15TH PETITIONER.

P30 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 30.4.10 OF THE 16TH PETITIONER. P31 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 16.9.14 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 16TH PETITIONER.

P32 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 18.9.10 OF THE 17TH PETITIONER. P33 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 16.9.14 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 17TH PETITIONER.

P34 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 03.5.10 OF THE 18TH PETITIONER. P35TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 21.6.13 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 18TH PETITIONER.

P36 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 18.9.10 OF THE 19TH PETITIONER. P37 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 30.6.14 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 19TH PETITIONER.

P38 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 03.5.10 OF THE 20TH PETITIONER. P39 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 07.3.12 OF THE 21ST PETITIONER. P40 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 11.9.14 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 21ST PETITIONER.

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P41 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 16.1.10 OF THE 22ND PETITIONER. P42 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 02.5.14 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 22ND PETITIONER.

P43 - TRUE COPY OF THE DEMAND NOTICE OF SURRENDER ISSUED TO SRI.T.N.BALAKRISHNAN NAIR BY THE TLAUK LAND BOARD, SOUTH WAYANAD.

P44 - TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DT. 01.3.12 ISSUED BY THE CHAIRMAN, LAND BOARD.

P45 - TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DT. 02.2.12 ISSUED BY THE LAND REVENUE COMMISSIONER.

P46 - TRUE COPY OF THE POSSESSION CERTIFICATE ISSUED TO ONE SRI.M.GANGADHARAN.

P47 - TRUE COPY OF THE LOCATION SKETCH SSUED TO ONE SRI.M.GANGADHARAN.

P48 - TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT IN WPC NO. 34777/2011 OF THIS HON'BLE COURT.

P49 - TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT IN WPC NO. 22798/14 OF THIS HON'BLE COURT.

RESPONDENT(S)' EXHIBITS --------------------------------------- NIL.

/ TRUE COPY / P.S. TO JUDGE

P.R. RAMACHANDRA MENON, J.

--------------------------------------- W.P.(C) No.9679 of 2015 --------------------------------------- Dated this the 10th day of April, 2015

JUDGMENT

The petitioners have approached this Court with the following prayers:

"a. To issue a writ of certiorari or any other appropriate writ, order or direction calling for the records leading to Exts.P44 and 45 and quash the same;

b. To issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction directing the respondents 1 to 4, not to make any endorsement in the Basic Tax Receipts, Possession Certificates and Location Sketches etc. issued to the petitioners as stated in Ext.P45; And c. To grant such other and further reliefs as are just, proper and necessary in the facts and circumstances of the case."

The learned counsel for the petitioners places reliance on the decision rendered by this Court in Devassia v. Sub Registrar

W.P.(C) No.9679 of 2015 (2015 (1) KLT 825) and seeks to extend similar benefit to the petitioners.

2. Heard the learned Government Pleader as well.

3. After hearing both the sides, this Court finds that the petitioners are also entitled to have similar reliefs. The operative portion of the above verdict reads as follows: "14. In view of the above, these writ petitions are disposed with the following directions" i. There shall be a direction to the Revenue Officials to effect mutation in respect of the properties obtained by the purchasers based on valid title.

ii. If any of the properties are found to be converted before or after the purchase, the Revenue Officials are free to bring it to the notice of the Taluk Land Board or the appropriate Authorities to include the property in the account of the holder of land at the time of exemption for the purpose of ceiling.

iii. The registering authority shall not insist for no-objection certificate for the reason that the land is exempted land for the purpose of registration.

iv. The transfer of exempted land as a whole or in part can be acted upon for the purpose of registration or effecting mutation.

W.P.(C) No.9679 of 2015 v. In the light of the directions above, the Registering Authority and Revenue Officials are directed to do the needful in these matters to register the document and effect mutation within a period of four weeks from date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. No costs."

The writ petition is disposed of in similar lines granting similar benefit to the petitioners herein as well. The petitioners shall produce a copy of the judgment, along with a copy of the writ petition, before the concerned respondent, for further steps.

Sd/- P.R. RAMACHANDRA MENON, JUDGE sp