Venugopalan vs District Collector

Murali Purushothaman, J

The petitioner is the owner in possession of an extent of 39.77 Ares of land comprised in Sy.No.74/8 in Block No.3 of Chengottukavu Village, Koyilandy Taluk, Kozhikode District.

The petitioner has approached this Court seeking a direction to the 2nd respondent, the Revenue Divisional Officer, to consider and dispose of Ext.P3 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.P3 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 petitioner and the learned Government Pleader, this writ petition is disposed of directing the Agricultural Officer/Village Officer concerned, 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.P3 application, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within a period of two months from the date of receipt of the report from the Agricultural Officer/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 Agricultural Officer/Village Officer, the RDO shall dispose of Ext.P3 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 Agricultural Officer/ Village Officer concerned for due compliance.