High Court of KeralaSingle Judge2015-04-10Writ petitions disposed with directions; no costs.

Divakaran and others v. Village Officer, Purakkadi Village, Tahsildar, Sulthan Bathery Taluk; District Collector Wayanad; The State of Kerala; The Land Revenue Commissioner, Thiruvananthapuram

Case / Petition Number:WP(C).No. 9679 of 2015 (H)

Neutral Citation:/null

Case Details & Bench

Court: High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges: P. R. Ramachandra Menon
Judgment Date: 2015-04-10
Court Decision / Holding: There shall be a direction to mutate properties in respect of purchasers based on valid title; if any property is converted, notify the Taluk Land Board to include it in the exemption account; registering authority shall not insist on a no-objection certificate for exempted land; transfer of exempted land, wholly or partly, can be acted upon for registration or mutation; and the Registering Authority and Revenue Officials must do the needful to register the document and effect mutation within four weeks from receipt of a copy of the judgment. No costs.
Final Disposition: Writ petitions disposed with directions; no costs.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

DIVAKARAN
KABEER
VARKEY
BALAN V
SHEEBA REJI
REJI
FR.REJI PAUL
SINI
ALEX MATHEW
BIJI
VINOD
ANIL
A.J.KURIAKOSE
M.GANGADHARAN
ABRAHAM P.I
REENA K.K
SURESH KUMAR
AJI T. ABRAHAM
CHERIYAN DANIEL
SAJI T.V
KALYANA SUNDARI THOMAS
ROY

Respondents

THE VILLAGE OFFICER, PURAKKADI VILLAGE
THE TAHSILDAR, SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK, WAYANAD DISTRICT
THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR WAYANAD
THE STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT REVENUE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT THIRUVANANThURAM
THE LAND REVENUE COMMISSIONER THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

• Dr. George Abraham
• Sri. Lindons C. Davis

Counsels for Respondents

• Sri. Joseph George

Case Synopsis & Summary

Divakaran and others approached this Court in WP(C) 9679 of 2015 (H) seeking certiorari and mandamus to quash Exts. P44 and P45 and to direct the respondents not to make endorsements in basic tax receipts, possession certificates, and location sketches issued to them—lands claimed as exempted under prevailing norms. The petitioners rely on a precedent set by this Court in Devassia v. Sub Registrar to extend similar reliefs to their situation. The matter was heard with the Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the respondents. The Court accepted the petitioners' contentions to the extent of granting relief similar to the cited decision, and disposed of the writ petitions with a set of directions aimed at regularising records and registrations for exempted lands. The operative portions include mutation of properties in true title holders, permissibility of transfer or mutation when exempted lands are involved, and the registering authority’s obligation to refrain from insisting on a no-objection certificate where land is exempt for registration purposes. The Court directed the Revenue Officials and Registering Authority to complete the required steps within four weeks from the date of judgment, with no costs awarded. The decision aligns with the earlier Devassia ruling, broadening relief to the petitioners herein.

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioners seek certiorari to quash Exts.P44 and P45 and mandamus to stop endorsements in Basic Tax Receipts, Possession Certificates and Location Sketches on the lands claimed as exempted; they rely on a precedent in Devassia v. Sub Registrar (W.P.(C) No. 9679 of 2015) to extend such reliefs to their lands. They contend that registration and mutation should proceed on the basis of valid titles without hinderance due to the exempt status, and that no-objection certificates need not be insisted for exemption land, enabling smoother transfer and mutation.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents, represented by the Government Pleader, opposed undue impediments to mutation and registration, and argued for adherence to statutory procedures while considering the reliefs sought. The record shows the Government Pleader participated in arguments, but the Court ultimately found that the petitioners should receive relief similar to the Devassia decision, directing officials to proceed with mutation and registration in conformity with the exemption provisions and without unnecessary impediments.

Cited Precedents (3)

Case Name	Citation	Treatment	Explanation
Devassia v. Sub Registrar	W.P.(C) No. 9679 of 2015 (2015 (1) KLT 825)	Positive	Court relies on and extends the reliefs granted in Devassia to the present petitioners, signaling approval and application of that decision.
W.P.(C) No. 34777/2011	WPC 34777/2011	Mentioned Only	Exhibit referenced (P48) but not a controlling authority in the present reasoning.
W.P.(C) No. 22798/2014	WPC 22798/14	Mentioned Only	Exhibit referenced (P49) but not treated as binding precedent in the judgment.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT:** **THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.R.RAMACHANDRA MENON FRIDAY, THE 10TH DAY OF APRIL 2015/20TH CHAITHRA, 1937** ## **WP(C).No. 9679 of 2015 (H)** ## **--------------------------------------** **PETITIONER(S): ----------------------** ## **1. DIVAKARAN,** - **S/O. KRISHNAN NAIR, NHARAKKATTIL HOUSE, MYLAMBADY P.O. MEENANGADI - 673 591, SULTHAN BATHERI TALUK.** ## **2. KABEER,** - **S/O. MUHAMMED, VAYAMBALATH HOUSE MAYANAD P.O - 673 008, CHELAVOOR VILLAGE KOZHIKODE TALUK.** ## **3. VARKEY,** - **S/O. KORA, MULLASSERIL HOUSE, KUMBALERI P.O - 673 591 KRISHNAGIRI AMSOM, CHEENGERI DESOM SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.** ## **4. BALAN V,** - **S/O. KUNHIRAMAN NAIR, VALIYAVATTAM HOUSE NENMENI P.O - 673 592, NENMENI AMSOM DESOM SULTHAN BATHERI TALUK.** ## **5. SHEEBA REJI,** - **W/O. REJI, MADATHIL HOUSE, MEENANGADI P.O - 673 591 SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.** ## **6. REJI,** - **S/O. KURIAKOSE, THEKKEVARAPPOTHUKUZHI MEENANGADI P.O - 673 592, PRAKKADI AMSOM DESOM SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.** ## **7. FR.REJI PAUL** - **S/O. POULOSE, CHAVARPPANAL HOUSE VAZHAVATTA P.O - 673 122, MANDAD, MUTTIL AMSOM DESOM VYTHIRI TALUK.** ## **8. SINI** - **W/O. FR. REJI PAUL, CHAVARPPANAL HOUSE VAZHAVATTA P.O - 673 122, MANDAD, MUTTIL AMSOM DESOM VYTHIRI TALUK.** **PJ** **....2/-** **..2..** **WP(C).No. 9679 of 2015 (H)** ## **--------------------------------------** ## **9. ALEX MATHEW,** - **S/O. MATHEW, EANGAPPALLIL HOUSE NARIKKUNDU P.O - 673 593, AMBALAVAYAL AMSOM DESOM SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.** ## **10. BIJI,** - **D/O. GANGADHARAN, USHAS HOUSE, MEENANGADI P.O - 673 592, PRAKKADI AMSOM DESOM SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.** ## **11. VINOD,** - **S/O. VELAYUDHAN, PUTHIYOTTIL HOUSE KALLURUTTY P.O - 673 603, NEELESWARAM VILLAGE KOZHIKODE TALUK.** ## **12. ANIL,** **S/O. UNNIKRISHNAN NAIR, PARATHANANTHU HOUSE KAKKAVAYAL P.O - 673 122, MUTTIL SOUTH AMSOM DESOM VYTHIRI TALUK.** ## **13. A.J.KURIAKOSE,** - **S/O. ITTOOPPU, AADUKALIL HOUSE, KARACHAL P.O - 673 591 KOLIMOOLAKUNNU, AMBALAVAYAL AMSOM DESOM SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.** ## **14. M.GANGADHARAN** - **S/O. GOPALAN, USHAS HOUSE, MEENANGADI P.O - 673 591 PURAKKADI AMSOM DESOM, SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.** ## **15. ABRAHAM P.I,** ## **S/O. ISAC, PAREKKATTIL HOUSE, KUMBALERI P.O - 673 591 AMBALAVAYAL AMSOM DESOM, SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.** ## **16. REENA K.K,** - **W/O. SURESH KUMAR, NHAREKKATTIL HOUSE, MYLAMBADI P.O. MEENANGADI, PURAKKADI AMSOM DESOM SULTHAN BATHERI TALUK.** **17. SURESH KUMAR, S/O. BHASKARAN, NHAREKATTIL HOUSE, MYLAMBADI P.O., MEENANGADI PURAKKADI AMSOM DESOM, SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.** ## **18. AJI T. ABRAHAM,** - **S/O. ABRAHAM, THANDEKKATTU HOUSE KUMBALERI P.O - 673 591, KRISHNAGIRI AMSOM CHEENGERI DESOM, SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.** ## **19. CHERIYAN DANIEL** - **S/O. DANIYEL, MALAVILAPADITTETHIL HOUSE VETTIYAAR P.O - 690 557, VETTIYAR VILLAGE MAVELIKKARA TALUK.** **PJ** **....3/-** **..3..** **WP(C).No. 9679 of 2015 (H)** ## **--------------------------------------** ## **20. SAJI T.V** **S/O. VARGHESE, THAZHATHEKUDI HOUSE MYLAMBADI P.O - 673 591, MEENANGADI PURAKKADI AMSOM DESOM, SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.** ## **21. KALYANA SUNDARI THOMAS,** **W/O. CHACKO THOMAS REMYA JEEVAN CO-OPERATIVE HOUSING SOCIETY NO.13 ANDHERI EAST P.O., MAHAKALI CAVES ROAD ANDHERI EAST VILLAGE, MUMBAI - 400 093.** ## **22. ROY** **S/O. PATHROSE, MUNDAKKAL HOUSE KRISHNAGIRI P.O. - 673 591, MEENANAGADI KRISHNAGIRI AMSOM, CHEENGERI DESOM SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK.** **BY ADVS.DR.GEORGE ABRAHAM SRI.LINDONS C.DAVIS** ## **RESPONDENT(S):** - **-------------------------** **1. THE VILLAGE OFFICER, PURAKKADI VILLAGE - 673 121.** ## **2. THE TAHSILDAR** - **SULTHAN BATHERY TALUK, WAYANAD DISTRICT - 673 592.** **3. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR WAYANAD - 673 121** **4. THE STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT REVENUE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001.** **5. THE LAND REVENUE COMMISSIONER THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001.** **BY SENIOR GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.JOSEPH GEORGE** **THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 10-04-2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** **PJ** ## **WP(C).No. 9679 of 2015 (H) --------------------------------------** ## **APPENDIX** ## **PETITIONER(S)' EXHIBITS -------------------------------------** - **P1 - TRUE COPYOF THE TITLE DEED DT. 16.1.10 OF THE 1ST PETITIONER.** - **P2 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 04.9.12 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 1ST PETITIONER.** - **P3 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 17.9.10 OF THE 2ND PETITIONER.** - **P4 - TRUE COPY FO THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 12.6.13 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 2ND PETITIONER.** - **P5 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 30.4.10 OF THE 3RD PETITIONER.** - **P6 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 17.10.12 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 3RD PETITIONER.** - **P7 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 19.6.09 OF THE 4TH PETITIONER.** - **P8 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 16.7.11 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 4TH PETITIONER.** - **P9 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT.17.9.10 OF THE 5TH PETITIONER.** - **P10 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 25.9.14 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 5TH PETITIONER.** - **P11 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 01.10.09 OF THE 6TH PETITIONER.** - **P12 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 12.9.09 OF THE 6TH PETITIONER.** - **P13 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND RECEIPT DT. 19.10.13 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 6TH PETITIONER.** - **P14 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 28.3.11 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 7TH & 8TH PETITIONERS.** - **P15 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 11.12.14 ISSUED IN FAVUR OF THE 7TH & 8TH.** - **P16 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 20.10.09 OF THE 9TH PETITIONER.** - **P17 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 16.8.14 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 9TH PETITIONER.** - **P18 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 29.10.11 OF THE 10TH PETITIONER.** - **P19 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 26.7.12 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 10 TH PETITIONER.** **PJ** **.....2/-** **..2..** **WP(C).No. 9679 of 2015 (H)** **--------------------------------------** - **P20 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 20.10.09 OF THE 11TH PETITIONER.** - **P21 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 16.5.14 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 11TH PETITIONER.** - **P22 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 15.1.10 OF THE 12TH PETITIONER.** - **P23 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 08.10.13 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 12TH PETITIONER.** - **P24 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 28.3.11 OF THE 13TH PETITIONER.** - **P25 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 22.9.12 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 13TH PETITIONER.** - **P26 - TRUE CPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 29.10.11 OF THE 14TH PETITIONER.** - **P27 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 27.7.12 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 14TH PETITIONER.** - **P28 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 07.3.12 OF THE 15TH PETITIONER.** - **P29 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 20.4.13 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 15TH PETITIONER.** - **P30 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 30.4.10 OF THE 16TH PETITIONER.** - **P31 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 16.9.14 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 16TH PETITIONER.** - **P32 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 18.9.10 OF THE 17TH PETITIONER.** - **P33 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 16.9.14 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 17TH PETITIONER.** - **P34 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 03.5.10 OF THE 18TH PETITIONER.** - **P35TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 21.6.13 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 18TH PETITIONER.** - **P36 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 18.9.10 OF THE 19TH PETITIONER.** - **P37 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 30.6.14 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 19TH PETITIONER.** - **P38 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 03.5.10 OF THE 20TH PETITIONER.** - **P39 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 07.3.12 OF THE 21ST PETITIONER.** - **P40 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 11.9.14 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 21ST PETITIONER.** **PJ** **....3/-** **..3..** **WP(C).No. 9679 of 2015 (H)** ## **--------------------------------------** - **P41 - TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED DT. 16.1.10 OF THE 22ND PETITIONER.** - **P42 - TRUE COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT DT. 02.5.14 ISSUED IN FAVOUR OF THE 22ND PETITIONER.** - **P43 - TRUE COPY OF THE DEMAND NOTICE OF SURRENDER ISSUED TO SRI.T.N.BALAKRISHNAN NAIR BY THE TLAUK LAND BOARD, SOUTH WAYANAD.** - **P44 - TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DT. 01.3.12 ISSUED BY THE CHAIRMAN, LAND BOARD.** - **P45 - TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DT. 02.2.12 ISSUED BY THE LAND REVENUE COMMISSIONER.** - **P46 - TRUE COPY OF THE POSSESSION CERTIFICATE ISSUED TO ONE SRI.M.GANGADHARAN.** - **P47 - TRUE COPY OF THE LOCATION SKETCH SSUED TO ONE SRI.M.GANGADHARAN.** - **P48 - TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT IN WPC NO. 34777/2011 OF THIS HON'BLE COURT.** - **P49 - TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT IN WPC NO. 22798/14 OF THIS HON'BLE COURT.** ## **RESPONDENT(S)' EXHIBITS** **---------------------------------------** **NIL.** **/ TRUE COPY /** ## **P.S. TO JUDGE** **PJ** ## **P.R. RAMACHANDRA MENON, J.** **--------------------------------------W.P.(C) No.9679 of 2015 --------------------------------------Dated this the 10[th] day of April, 2015** ## **JUDGMENT** The petitioners have approached this Court with the following prayers: _“a. To issue a writ of certiorari or any other appropriate writ, order or direction calling for the records leading to Exts.P44 and 45 and quash the same;_ _b. To issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction directing the respondents 1 to 4, not to make any endorsement in the Basic Tax Receipts, Possession Certificates and Location Sketches etc. issued to the petitioners as stated in Ext.P45; And_ _c. To grant such other and further reliefs as are just, proper and necessary in the facts and circumstances of the case.”_ The learned counsel for the petitioners places reliance on the decision rendered by this Court in **Devassia v. Sub Registrar** _W.P.(C) No.9679 of 2015_ **2** (2015 (1) KLT 825) and seeks to extend similar benefit to the petitioners. 2. Heard the learned Government Pleader as well. 3. After hearing both the sides, this Court finds that the petitioners are also entitled to have similar reliefs. The operative portion of the above verdict reads as follows: _“14. In view of the above, these writ petitions are disposed with the following directions”_ _i. There shall be a direction to the Revenue Officials to effect mutation in respect of the properties obtained by the purchasers based on valid title._ _ii. If any of the properties are found to be converted before or after the purchase, the Revenue Officials are free to bring it to the notice of the Taluk Land Board or the appropriate Authorities to include the property in the account of the holder of land at the time of exemption for the purpose of ceiling._ _iii. The registering authority shall not insist for no-objection certificate for the reason that the land is exempted land for the purpose of registration._ _iv. The transfer of exempted land as a whole or in part can be acted upon for the purpose of registration or effecting mutation._ _W.P.(C) No.9679 of 2015_ **3** _v. In the light of the directions above, the Registering Authority and Revenue Officials are directed to do the needful in these matters to register the document and effect mutation within a period of four weeks from date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. No costs.”_ The writ petition is disposed of in similar lines granting similar benefit to the petitioners herein as well. The petitioners shall produce a copy of the judgment, along with a copy of the writ petition, before the concerned respondent, for further steps. Sd/- **P.R. RAMACHANDRA MENON, JUDGE** sp