AP temple approaches High Court for issuance of patta

CHENNAI: The Madras high court has directed the executive officer for Sri Amerswara Swamy Temple and Sri Sadavarthy Choultry Amaravathy, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, to appear before the district revenue officer, Kancheepuram district, on October 6, 2017, in connection with the issuance of patta to lands belonging to the temple in Thalmbur village.

In the petition, the temple authorities sought for a direction to the revenue authorities of the Tamil Nadu and district authorities to dispose of their representations in October 2013 to take steps and issue patta in favour of Sri Sadavarti Choultry for ‘choultry’ lands situated at Thalmbur Village, which were classified as ‘Anadheenam’ following Estates Abolition Act, 1948. They also sought to grant of Ryotwari Patta to the land, which belonged to the state government. As the representation is pending before the district and revenue authorities, the executive officer  filed the writ petition seeking direction to the authorities to consider and dispose of their representations.

In reply, the state Government has submitted that the petitioner should have moved civil court to prove their title, possession and enjoyment of the properties, before claiming patta.  They had not applied to the Ryotwari patta before settlement authority within six months from the notified date and the time limit for applying for patta expired on June 30, 1975, a GO by commercial taxes and religious endowments department, dated May 14, 1975 said. Hence, sought for dismissal of the writ petition.

Justice S. Vaidyanathan has directed the EO to appear before the DRO on October 6, 2017, and directed the parties interested to inform the high court of Andhra Pradesh and the apex court with regard to the pending litigation before the courts, so that finality can be arrived at in the pending matters.