Kamala Amma vs Revenue Divisional Officer

Murali Purushothaman, J

The petitioners are the owners in possession of an extent of 25 Ares and 16 Sq.Meters of land comprised in Re-Sy.No.132/45 in Block No.005 of Chelannur Village, Kozhikode Taluk, Kozhikode District.

The petitioners have approached this Court seeking a direction to the 1st respondent, the Revenue Divisional Officer [RDO], to consider and dispose of Ext.P4 application in Form 5 filed under Rule 4(d) of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy land and Wetland Rules, 2008 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Rules’).

Ext.P4 being a statutory application under the Rules, the competent authorities have a bounden duty to consider the same in accordance with law within a reasonable time.

Having heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Government Pleader, this writ petition is disposed of directing the 2nd respondent/Village Officer, to submit a report as contemplated under Rule 4(e) of the Rules to the RDO within two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. The RDO shall dispose of Ext.P4 application, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within a period of two months from the date of receipt of the report from the Village Officer. The timelines as above shall be strictly complied with by the respective officers. In case the report has already been submitted by the Village Officer, the RDO shall dispose of Ext.P4 within the time limit specified earlier. The petitioner shall produce a copy of the judgment, along with a copy of the writ petition, before the Village Officer for due compliance.