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Supreme Court of India

STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESHversusVALLURI VANRAJU

Citation
1995 INSC 436
Decided
3 August 1995
Disposal
Appeal(s) allowed

Holding

The lands specified in the Commissioner’s report are to be excluded from the respondent’s holding, and the appeal is allowed to that extent.

Summary

The respondent, Vallurivan Raju, filed a declaration under Section 8(1) of the Andhra Pradesh Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings) Act, 1973. The Land Reforms Officer held that his holding exceeded the statutory ceiling of 1.3590 acres. The High Court, on revision, allowed the exclusion of only 3 acres 5 cents from his holding, which the State challenged. The Supreme Court examined the Commissioner’s report and identified several parcels (S.No. 118/1, 178/3, 174/1, 170/2, 227/4, 224/1, and 469/3‑4) that must be excluded, including land acquired for weaker‑section housing. The Court held that those parcels are to be excluded and the remainder of the land constitutes the respondent’s holding, thereby partially allowing the State’s appeal. No costs were awarded.

Issues considered

  • Whether the parcels listed in the Commissioner’s report should be excluded from the respondent’s agricultural holding under Section 8(1) of the Andhra Pradesh Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings) Act, 1973
  • Whether the High Court’s order of excluding only 3 acres 5 cents was legally sufficient

Legislation cited

Subjects

Land reformsCeiling on agricultural holdingsExclusion of landStandard holdingAndhra PradeshSection 8 declarationWeaker sections housingAppeal

Judgment

A                       STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH
                                   v.
                            VALLURIVANRAJU

                                 AUGUST 3, 1995

B              [K. RAMASWAMY AND K.S. PARIPOORNAN, JJ.]

         Andhra Pradesh Land Refonns (Ceiling on Agricultural Holding) Act,
    1973:

      Standard holding-Exclusion of certain lands on the basis of
c Commissioner's report-Directions issued.

           The respondent has submitted his declaration under Section 8(1) of
    the Andhra Pradesh Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings)
    Act, 1973. The Land Reforms Officer held that the respondent's holding
D   was in excess of 1.3590 standard Holding. On appeal, it was confirmed but
    in the revision the High Court allowed the exclusion of3 acres 5 cents from
    the holding. Hence this appeal by State.

            Partly allowing the appeal, this Court

E         HELD : 1.1. On perusal of the Commissioner's report it could be
    seen that the lands in S.No. 118/1 situated in Alamuru village in an extent
    of 12 cents and 9 cents respectively should be excluded. EquaJly the lands
    in Mandapata bearing S.No. 178/3 in an extent of 6 cents and 3 cents
    respectively; lands in S.No. 174/1 in an extent of 4 cents; lands in S.No.
    170/2 in an extent of 3 cents; lands in S.No. 227/4 in an extent of 2 cents
F   and lands in S.No. 224/1 in an extent of 4 cents respectively need to be
    excluded. (493-D-E]

          1.2. It is also reported by the Commissioner that in S.No. 469/3 and
    469/4 lands in an extent of AC-1.58 cents was acquired in 1970 by the
G   Government for the purpose of constructing houses for the weaker sections
    and that land was no longer within the holding of the respondent. All the
    above mentioned lands along stand excluded from his holding and the rest
    of the land are included in the holding of the respondent. [493-D-F]

            CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No.7398 of
H   1995.
                                         492
                                   STATE v. V. VANRAJU                          493

              From the Judgment and Order dated 6.4.87 of the Andhra Pradesh A
         High Court in C.R.P. No. 770 of 1986.

              K. Ram Kumar, Ms. Asha Nair, N. Sridhar and T.V.S.N. Chari for
         the Appellant.

                S.C. Birla for the Respondent.                                        B
                The following Order of the Coiirt was delivered :

                Leave granted.

               The respondent has submitted his declaration under Section 8(1) of C
          the Andhra Pradesh Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings)
         Act, 1973. The Land Reforms Officer held that the respondent's holding
         was in excess of 1.3590 standard Holding. On appeal, it was confirmed but
         the High Court in revision, which by the impugned order allowed the
         exclusion of 3 acres 5 cents from the holding. The Advocate Commissioner
         has submitted his report and on perusal of the Commissioner's report it D
         could be seen that the lands in S.No. 118/1 situated in Alamuru village in
         an extent of 12 cents and 9 cents respectively should be excluded. Equally
         the lands in Mandapata bearing S.No. 178/3 in an extent of 6 cents and 3
         cents respectively: lands in S.No. 174/l in an extent of 4 cents; lands in
         S.No. 170/2 in an extent of 3 cents; lands in S.No. 227/4 in an extent of 2 E
         cents and lands in S.No. 224/l in an extent of 4 cents respectively need to
         be excluded. It is also reported by the Commissioner that in S.No. 469/3
         and 469/4 lands in an extent of AC-1.58 cents was acquired in 1970 by the
         Government for the purpose of constructing houses for the weaker sections
         and that land was no longer within the holding of the respondent. All these
         lands alone stand excluded from his holding and the rest of the land are
                                                                                     F
         included in the holding of the respondent.
.... -          The appeal is allowed to the above extent. No costs .

         G.N.                                                       Appeal allowed.


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