Petitioners have submitted applications before the revenue authorities for effecting mutation of their property. This was denied by the revenue authorities on the ground that some land ceiling case is pending.
2. Counter affidavit is filed by the 3rd respondent inter alia stating that about 22 acres of land which originally belonged to Arthala Tea Estate was purchased by the petitioners, while the same was auctioned on account of the proceedings initiated by the Kerala Financial Corporation. The land was originally a tea plantation which was exempted under Section 81 of the Land Reforms Act. If the land was already exempted, there was nothing wrong in the petitioners purchasing the said property which remains as an exempted land. A ceiling case would arise if they change the nature of land to another unexempted category.
W.P.C.No.4477/2014 2
3. Having regard to the said situation, it was very well open for the revenue authorities to have effected mutation in favour of the petitioner.
In the result, this writ petition is disposed of as under:
The 2nd respondent shall take necessary steps to effect mutation of the properties belonging to the petitioners and appropriate orders may be passed within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment.
(sd/-) (A.M.SHAFFIQUE, JUDGE) jsr