::1:: APHC010265562025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3329] THURSDAY,THE TWENTY SIXTH DAY OF JUNE TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA WRIT PETITION NO: 15474/2025 Between: 1. G R NANJI REDDY,, S/O. LATE RANGANATH REDDY AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS, OCC- CULTIVATION, R/0.D.N0.7-13B, PAPASANIPALLI, MELVOI VILLAGE, MADAKASIRA MANDAL, SRI SATHYA SAI DISTRICT ERSTWHILE ANANTAPUR DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, REVENUE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS AT VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, A.P. 2. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, SRI SATHYA SAI DISTRICT ERSTWHILE ANANTAPUR DISTRICT. 3. THE REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER, SRI SATHYA SAI DISTRICT ERSTWHILE ANANTAPUR DISTRICT. 4. THE TAHSILDAR, MADAKASIRA MANDAL, SRI SATHYA SAI DISTRICT ERSTWHILE ANANTAPUR DISTRICT. ...RESPONDENT(S): This Court made the following ORDER:- 1. This writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief: “tomay be pleased to issue a Writ, One in the nature of a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate Wirt, Direction or Order declaring the action of the 4th respondent in rejecting the petitioners Mee-Seva application No. MUT231101043182. MUT231101042836, MUT231101042353, 2 MUT2311010415671 MUT231101040984, MUT231101040342, MUT231101039766 dated 01.11.2023 on 28.11.2023 for mutation of his name in revenue records by issuing Pattadar Pass Books, e- Pass Book and title deeds in respect of land admeasuring an extent of Ac.0.04 cents in Sy.No.600- 3, Ac.1.16 cents in Sy.No.182-1, Ac.0.48 cents in Sy.No.174-3, Ac.0.62 cents in Sy.No.180-3, Ac.0.57 cents in Sy.No.181-3 and Ac.0.15 cents in Sy.No.410-2 in total Ac.3.02 cents situated at Melvavoi Village, Madakasira Mandal, Sri Sathya Sai District Erstwhile Ananthapur District without assigning any reasons and without providing any opportunity to submit explanation as illegal arbitrary and contrary to the provisions of the A.P Rights in Land and Pattadar Pass Books Act-1971 and consequently set aside the same by directing the respondents to mutate the petitioners name in the revenue records by issuing pattadar pass book e-Pass Book and title deeds in favour petitioner in respect of above said land and pass 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue appearing for the respondents. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that, the 4th respondent without having any authority or jurisdiction has rejected the petitioner’s application dated 01.11.2023 for mutation and for issuance of E-Pattadar Passbook and title deeds in respect of the land admeasuring to an extent of Ac.0.04 cents in Sy.No.600-3, Ac.1.16 cents in Sy.No.182-1, Ac.0.48 cents in Sy.No.174-3, Ac.0.62 cents in Sy.No.180-3, Ac.0.57 cents in Sy.No.181-3 and 3 Ac.0.15 cents in Sy.No.410-2 in total Ac.3.02 cents situated at Melvavoi Village, Madakasira Mandal, Sri Sathya Sai District Erstwhile Ananthapur District. 4. The learned counsel for the petitioner, in elaboration to what has been stated in the affidavit contended that, the petitioner’s mutation application has been rejected by the Tahsildar on 28.11.2023, contrary to Section 5 of the A.P. Rights in Land and Pattadar Pass Books Act as amended by Act 15 of 2022 (for short ‘Act 15 of 2022), which says that if at all the Tahsildar has an intention to reject the application seeking for mutation and for issuance of pattadar pass book and title deed, at the most he can forward his recommendations along with material to the Revenue Divisional Officer for necessary orders. For which, he has drawn the attention of this Court to Section 5(2) of the Act 15 of 2022. But, the Tahsildar, instead of transmitting the documents to Revenue Divisional Officer along with recommendations to exercise his jurisdiction, he himself had rejected the application contrary to the provisions of the Act 15 of 2022. As such, prayed to allow the Writ Petition by setting aside the same. 5. On the other hand, the learned Assistant Government Pleader for the respondents contended that the Section 5 of Act 4 No.26 of 1971 was amended vide G.O.Ms.No.15 dated 02.04.2025, the same was published at Gazette as Act No.8 of 2025 on 02.04.2025, wherein Section 5(2) and 5(2)(a) were deleted by adding proviso as extracted hereunder: “2. In the Andhra Pradesh Rights in Land and Pattadar Pass Books Act, 1971 (herein after referred to as Principal Act), in Section 5- After sub-section (1), the following proviso shall be added namely- “Provided that no order refusing to make an amendment in accordance with the intimation shall be passed unless the person making such intimation has been given an opportunity of making his representation in that behalf”. For sub-section (2), the following shall be substituted, namely- “(2) The Tahsildar shall, before carrying out any amendment in the record of rights under sub- section (1) shall issue a notice in writing to all persons whose names are entered in the record of rights and who are interested in or affected by the amendment and to any other persons whom he has reason to believe to be interested therein or affected thereby to show cause within the period specified therein as to why the amendment should not be carried out. A copy of the amendment and the notice aforesaid shall also be published in such manner as may be prescribed. The Tahsildar shall consider every objection made in that behalf and after making such enquiry as may be prescribed 5 pass such order in relation thereto as deemed fit, in accordance to this Act. Every order passed under this Section shall be communicated to the person concerned.” 6. The learned Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue appearing for the respondents further submits that in view of the above amendment vide Act No.8 of 2025, the Tahsildar has vested with the power and jurisdiction to deal with the mutation application made by the petitioner, either by ordering mutation or to reject the same. 7. In reply, learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that the 4th respondent has rejected the application of the petitioner without assigning any reasons and thereby, the petitioner is deprived of the opportunity of appeal/proceedings against the rejection order as he is unaware of the reasons for such refusal of the application. 8. Having regard to the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader for the respondents and on perusal of amended Section 5(1) proviso of Act No.8 of 2025, it indicates that while rejecting the claim of the petitioner who sought for mutation under Section 6-A of the Andhra 6 Pradesh Rights in Land and Pattadar Pass Books Act, 1971, the 4th respondent/Tahsildar shall issue notice informing about the rejection of the same and invite the objections/explanation from the applicant. After receipt of the said objections/explanation, the 4th respondent shall consider the same and pass orders with all reasons. But in the instance case, the 4th respondent did not comply with the object of the amended Act i.e., Act No.8 of 2025. Therefore, the subject rejection without assigning any reasons and without providing opportunity of hearing to the petitioner is contrary to Section 5(1) proviso of Act No.8 of 2025. 9. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is allowed and setting aside the rejection proceeding dated 28.11.2023. However, the claim of the petitioner was remitted for fresh consideration of the 4th respondent. The 4th respondent is at liberty to proceed further and pass appropriate orders in accordance with Section 5(1) proviso and Section 5(2) of Act No.8 of 2025. No costs. As a sequel, interlocutory applications if any pending, shall stand closed. _____________________________________ JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA 26.06.2025 klk 7 145 THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE VENAKTESWARLU NIMMAGADDA WRIT PETITION NO.15474 of 2025 26.06.2025 klk