Priyamol v. State Of Kerala

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

PRESENT:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.VINOD CHANDRAN TUESDAY, THE 23RD DAY OF JUNE 2015/2ND ASHADHA, 1937 WP(C).No. 18763 of 2015 (U) ---------------------------- PETITIONER :

------------------ PRIYAMOL, W/O.SANTHOSH KUMAR, AMBALATHINAL HOUSE, KARIMKUNNAM P.O.

THODUPUZHA, IDUKKI DISTRICT BY ADV. SRI.P.S.GEORGE RESPONDENTS :

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1. STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695 001.

2. THE REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER, MEENACHIL , PALA 686 006.

3. THE VILLAGE OFFICER, BHARANANGANAM VILLAGE, KOTTAYAM 686 001.

BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SMT. C.K. SHERIN THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 23-06-2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

bp

WP(C).No. 18763 of 2015 (U) ---------------------------- APPENDIX PETITIONER(S)' EXHIBITS ------------------------------------- P1:

TRUE COPY OF TAX RECEIPT DATED 19.3.2015 ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT.

P1(A): TRUE COPY OF TAX RECEIPT DATED 24.2.2015 ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT.

P2:

TRUE COPY OF RELEVANT PAGE OF DRAFT DATA BANK OF BHARANGANAM VILLAGE, DATED NIL P3:

TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 19.3.2015 UNDER KLU ORDER BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT P4:

TRUE COPY OF REPORT OF THE VILLAGE OFFICER, DATED 9.4.2015 RESPONDENT(S)' EXHIBITS :

NIL.

//TRUE COPY// P.A. TO JUDGE bp

K. VINOD CHANDRAN, J.

------------------------------------------ W.P.(C) No. 18763 of 2015 (U) ------------------------------------------ Dated this the 23rd day of June, 2015

J U D G M E N T

The petitioner has filed the above writ petition for correction of the description in the Basic Tax Register (BTR), of 10.64 Ares in Re-Survey No.345/2 and 8.10 Ares in Re-Survey No.345/2-2 in Block No.35 in Bharananganam Village. The Supreme Court in RDO v. Jalaja Dileep - 2015(2) KHC 109(SC) considered the issue of rectification of description in the Basic Tax Register and held that the same is not permissible. However, with respect to conversion and utilisation of lands which are not covered or were converted prior to bringing into force of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wet Land Act, 2008 (hereinafter referred to as the 'Paddy Land Act') it was held so in paragraphs 17 and 23, which are extracted hereunder: "17. ''Paddy land" and "Wetlands" are defined under Sections 2 (xii) and 2 (xviii) of the

-2Act respectively. As per Section 5(4), the Committee shall interalia prepare a data Bank with details of cultivable paddy land within the jurisdiction of the Committee. If the land is not included in the Data Bank or Draft Data Bank prepared under the Kerala Cultivation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008 and if it is not a "Paddy Land" or "Wetland" as defined under Act 28 of 2008, at the time of commencement of the Act 12 of 2008 and the classification of land is noted as "Nilam"

in the revenue records, the provision of Kerala Land Utilization Order 1967 will be applicable to such land and the Collector as defined in clause 2(a) of KLU Order 1967 has the power to grant permission to utilize the land for other purposes. As stated in clause 2(a) of KLU Order, Collectors shall examine such request for residential purpose, on merits on a case to case basis. However, with a view to prevent indiscriminate filling of Paddy Lands in the State, the Government have also prescribed certain restrictions in the Notification dated 5.2.2002 noted (supra), in which District Collectors have been directed interalia to ensure that the conversions which are likely to render irrigation investments infructuous and large scale conversion for commercial purpose are not allowed.

xxx xxx xxx

-323. The respondents in all the appeals are directed to approach the competent authorities constituted under KLU Order 1967/ Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act 2008 as the case may be for conversion of the land. When the respondents approach the concerned authorities constituted under the above statutes, the concerned authorities shall consider the application of the respondents in accordance with the relevant provisions of the statutes and also the notification G.O.(Rt).

No.157/2002/Ad dated 5.2.2002 already extracted above in para 11 and in accordance with law keeping in view the factual position that may be brought to the notice of the authorities along with material to substantiate their claim. In the facts and circumstances of the case, we make no order as to costs."

In such circumstances, no rectification of the Basic Tax Register could be made. The petitioner has a contention that the lands are not included in the Data Bank prepared under the Paddy Land Act for the area. The petitioner then has to approach the appropriate authority under the Kerala Land Utilisation Order 1967 for changed utilisation of the land. Such an application is filed at Ext.P3. If the property

-4is found to be utilised for a different purpose prior to the Paddy Land Act, the consideration shall be made, if necessary, after a physical inspection and concluded by a speaking order within two months from the date of production of the certified copy of this judgment. Subsequent to such a finding the petitioner could also approach the appropriate authority under the Kerala Land Tax Act for fresh assessment of the land, as directed to be utilised under the KLU order, as has been held in Kizhakkambalam Grama Panchayath V. Mariumma - 2015(2) KLT 516.

The Writ Petition is disposed of.

Sd/- K.VINOD CHANDRAN, JUDGE jjj