APHC010514432026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3396] TUESDAY, THE 29th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA WRIT PETITION NO: 27944/2026 Between: 1. MATTE RAJIV KUMAR, S/O. VENKATARAMANA, AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, OCC BUSINESS, R/O. D.NO.3-307, CHURCH ROAD, SUBBARAOPET TADEPALLIGUDEM, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT. 2. MATTE VENKATARAMANA, S/O. MUTTAYYA, AGED ABOUT 67 YEARS, OCC BUSINESS, R/O. 3-30-7, CHURCH ROAD, SUBBARAOPET TADEPALLIGUDEM, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT. 3. BANDILA SURYA KUMARI, D/O. BANDILA RAMBABU, AGED ABOUT 26 YEARS, R/O. H.NO.1-59/3, DANDAGARRA, TADEPALLIGUDEM, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER(S) AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, FOREST DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT.522238 REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY. 2. THE DISTRICT FOREST OFFICER, ELURU DISTRICT, ELURU. 534001 3. THE FOREST RANGE OFFICER, NUZVID, ELURU DISTRICT 534001 ...RESPONDENT(S): Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased toto issue an appropriate Writ, Order or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the action of Respondent 2 Nos.2 and 3 in attempting to interfere with and dispossess the Petitioners from their respective agricultural lands, admeasuring Ac.8.00 in Sy.No.355/1 and Ac.15.76 in Sy.No.355/4 and Ac22.00 each in Sy.No.355/7, situated at Somavaram Village, Chatrai Mandal, Eluru District, despite the order dated 14.11.2024 in Rc.No.CA/18/2024A, passed by the Forest Settlement Officer in favour of the petitioners, without any notice or following due process of law, as illegal, arbitrary, unconstitutional and violative of principles of Natural Justice and Articles 14, 21 and 300-A of the Constitution of India, and consequently direct Respondent Nos.2 and 3 not to interfere with or dispossess the Petitioners from their respective lands except by due process of law IA NO: 1 OF 2026 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to direct the 2nd and 3rd respondents not to interfere with and dispossess the petitioners from the respective agricultural lands, admeasuring Ac.8.00 in Sy.No.355/1 and Ac.15.76 in Sy.No.355/4 and Ac22.00 each in Sy.No.355/7, situated at Somavaram Village, Chatrai Mandal, Eluru District, pending disposal of the writ petition Counsel for the Petitioner(S): 1. PAMARTHI KAMESWARA RAO Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR FORESTS 3 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA WRIT PETITION NO: 27944 of 2026 ORAL ORDER:- 1. The present Writ Petition is filed seeking a Writ, Order or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the action of respondent Nos.2 and 3 in attempting to interfere with and dispossess the petitioners from their respective agricultural lands admeasuring Ac.8.00 in Sy.No.355/1, Ac.15.76 in Sy.No.355/4 and Ac.22.00 each in Sy.No.355/7, situated at Somavaram Village, Chatrai Mandal, Eluru District, despite the order dated 14.11.2024 in Rc.No.CA/18/2024A passed by the Forest Settlement Officer in favour of the petitioners, without issuing any notice or following due process of law, as illegal, arbitrary and violative of the principles of natural justice and Articles 14, 21 and 300-A of the Constitution of India, and consequently to direct respondent Nos.2 and 3 not to interfere with or dispossess the petitioners from their respective lands except by following due process of law. 2. Heard Sri Pamarthi Kameswara Rao, learned counsel for the petitioners and Ms.K.Siva Jyothi, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Forests for the respondents. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that the respondents herein, who are the Forest Authorities, are interfering with the possession and enjoyment of the petitioners over the subject property. 4 4. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Forests would submit that this matter may be disposed of, at the stage of admission itself, by giving a necessary direction to the respondent-authorities to follow due process of law. 5. Learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that, in view of the submission made by the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Forests, the present petition may be disposed of at this stage. 6. Considering the submissions made and without touching the merits of the case, since there are disputed questions of fact with regard to the rights over the subject property, the Writ Petition is disposed of. However, the respondent-authorities are directed to follow due process of law before taking any action in respect of the subject property. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel thereto, miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending shall stand closed. _________________________________________ Dr. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA Date: 29.09.2026. UPS 5 26 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA WRIT PETITION NO: 27944 of 2026 Dt.29.09.2026 UPS