High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeThe three writ petitions were disposed of by a ...

Gigi Mathew v. State of Kerala and others

Case / Petition Number:W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • Viju Abraham
Judgment Date
2023-08-24
Court Decision / Holding
Ext.P7 to P9 are set aside; the 4th respondent is directed to reconsider the applicant’s Section 27A application under the Act of 2008 in Form VII, after affording an opportunity of hearing within two months from the date of this judgment; the earlier designations regarding data bank removal were to be reviewed in light of pre-2008 conversion; W.P.(C) No.27271 of 2022 disposed; no further orders are required in W.P.(C) Nos. 5630 of 2016 and 25122 of 2018, which are closed.
Final Disposition
The three writ petitions were disposed of by a common judgment. The core relief is to set aside Exts.P7-P9 and direct the 4th respondent to reconsider the Section 27A application in light of pre-2008 conversion and LLMC findings, within two months, after hearing. WP(C)27271/2022 is disposed; WP(C)5630/2016 and WP(C)25122/2018 are closed with no further orders.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • Gigi Mathew

Respondents

  • State of Kerala represented by Secretary to Government, Revenue Department, Govt. Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram-695001
  • Land Revenue Commissioner, Public Office Buildings, Opp. Museum, Vikas Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram-695033
  • District Collector, Civil Station, Alappuzha-688012
  • Revenue Divisional Officer, Revenue Divisional Office, Alappuzha-688001
  • Local Level Monitoring Committee, Thakazhy Grama Panchayath represented by Convener Agricultural Officer, Thakazhy, Alappuzha District-668562
  • Village Officer, Village Office, Thakazhy-688562

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • Unni. K.K. (Ezhumattoor)

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Sr.GP Rekha C. Nair

Case Synopsis & Summary

Gigi Mathew, the petitioner, owns substantial land in Thakazhy, Alappuzha, which was partly reclaimed and converted prior to 2008. He sought permission under the Kerala Land Utilization Order, 1967 (KLU Order) to use the reclaimed land for non-agricultural purposes. He filed a writ petition after learning that the 4th respondent (Revenue Divisional Officer) contemplated an auction of cultivation rights, and earlier directions were issued in 2008-2009 directing action under the KLU Order. The petition details how Ext.P3 certificate (2011) recognized the land as a converted residential plot and how Ext.P4 directed permission for building, followed by Ext.P5 and the data bank that initially excluded but later removed the property. The Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008 (Act of 2008) created a data bank of cultivable paddy land; the LLMC minutes and field verifications eventually removed the property from the data bank, noting its pre-2008 conversion. The petitioner constructed a building and started a business. After eight years, the 4th respondent issued Ext.P7 under the KLU Order and the Land Conservancy Act, cancelling permissions and revoking licenses (Exts.P7-P9). The High Court held that delay in action and the manner of action violated natural justice, that the 4th respondent exceeded powers, and that the previous permission could not be retroactively annulled. The judgment directs reconsideration of the Section 27A application and sets aside Ext.P7-P9, disposing of the connected petitions with a two-month time frame for reconsideration.

Provisions of Law Cited

Kerala Land Utilization Order, 1967 (KLU Order)Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008Section 27A of the Act of 2008Clause 6(2) of the KLU OrderClause 7 of the KLU OrderSection 5 of the Act of 2008

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

  • Principle of natural justice; delay in passing orders violates natural justice
  • Power of review is not inherent in authorities and can be invoked only where statute provides for it
  • When land was converted prior to the Act of 2008, relevant permissions and controls under KLU Order may be superseded; not every action can be reviewed retroactively
  • If land is converted before 2008, permission timelines and the data-bank rules may not apply in the same way as post-2008 regulatory schemes
  • 10% land-set-aside under Section 27A is to be ordered only after an application under Section 27A is allowed, not before (as per Pious @ Peeyus Varkey)

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioner contends that the land was converted prior to the 2008 Act and hence not a paddy land. Ext.P3 certified the land as converted; the data bank and subsequent Ext.P5 removal show compliance. The petitioner relied on the Ext.P1 judgment (2008) directing action only after hearing; the eight-year delay before Ext.P7 shows denial of due process. The LLMC data-bank removal and Ext.P5 data show that the property was not paddy land; construction and business activity were lawful under permission previously granted. The action taken in Ext.P7 appears to exceed statutory powers under the KLU Order and the Act of 2008; thus Exts.P7-P9 should be interfered with, and Section 27A should be reconsidered with due process.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents contend that the land remains within the regulatory frame of the KLU Order and Act of 2008, as a reclaimed paddy land, and that the data bank initially omitted the property erroneously but later included restrictions. They argue that Ext.P7 was issued under valid authority and that the data bank’s corrections after 2008 were appropriate; the 27A mechanism is applicable to unnotified land, and the case merits reconsideration under proper statutory procedures. The delay in taking action is not fatal where orders are justified under law and after hearing; the court should respect the LLMC decisions and the government’s regulatory framework.

Cited Precedents (4)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Bhoovanachandran v. State of Kerala2005 KHC 313PositiveCited to support that delay in passing orders violates the principles of natural justice.
Archana Varghese v. District Collector, Pathanamthitta2015 (2) KHC 39PositiveCited to reinforce that not every order can be reviewed by the same authority; acts timely and per law; supports limits on exercise of review power and validation of actions taken under KLU Order when land was converted pre-2008.
Thomas V.J. v. State of Kerala and others2020 KHC 728PositiveCited to indicate that Clause 6(2) of the KLU Order became redundant after Section 27A, guiding the present reconsideration under 27A.
Pious @ Peeyus Varkey v. Revenue Divisional Officer, Fort Kochi and another2021 (4) KHC 190PositiveCited regarding the sequencing of Section 27A remedies; set-aside of land for water conservancy may be ordered only after 27A application is allowed, not before.

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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 VIJU ABRAHAM`** ``` THURSDAY, THE 24[TH] DAY OF AUGUST 2023 / 2ND BHADRA, 1945 ``` ## **`WP(C) NO. 5630 OF 2016`** ## **`PETITIONER:`** ``` GIGI MATHEW, CHUDUKATTIL HOUSE, CHEKKIDIKADU PO, ALAPPUZHA 689573 ``` ``` BY ADV SRI.UNNI. K.K. (EZHUMATTOOR) ``` ## **`RESPONDENTS:`** - **`1 STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, REVENUE DEPARTMENT, GOVT. SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001`** - **`2 BOARD OF REVENUE KERALA REVENUE DEPARTMENT, REPRESENTED BY LAND REVENUE COMMISSIONER, PUBLIC OFFICE BUILDINGS, OPP. MUSEUM VIKAS BHAVAN, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695033`** - **`3 LAND REVENUE COMMISSIONER PUBLIC OFFICE BUILDINGS, OPP.MUSEUM VIKAS BHAVAN, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695033`** - **`4 REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER ALAPUZHA 686001`** - **`BY SR.GP REKHA C.NAIR`** ``` THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 24.08.2023, ALONG WITH WP(C).25122/2018 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ``` W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 2 ## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** ## **`PRESENT`** ``` THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE VIJU ABRAHAM ``` ``` THURSDAY, THE 24[TH] DAY OF AUGUST 2023 / 2ND BHADRA, 1945 WP(C) NO. 25122 OF 2018 ``` ## **`PETITIONER:`** ``` GIGI MATHEW, CHUDUKATTIL HOUSE, CHEKKIDIKADU P.O.,ALAPUZHA - 689 573. BY ADV SRI.UNNI. K.K. (EZHUMATTOOR) ``` ## **`RESPONDENTS:`** - **`1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, REVENUE DEPARTMENT, GOVT. SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001.`** - **`2 LAND REVENUE COMMISSIONER PUBLIC OFFICE BUILDINGS, OPP. MUSEUM, VIKAS BHAVAN, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 033.`** - **`3 REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER ALAPUZHA - 688 001.`** - **`4 LOCAL LEVAL MONITORING COMMITTEE REPRESENTED BY CONVENER, AGRICULTURAL OFFICER,EDATHUA, ALAPUZHA DISTRICT - 686 573. BY SR.GP REKHA C.NAIR`** ``` THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 24.08.2023, ALONG WITH WP(C).5630/2016, 27271/2022, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ``` W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 3 ## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** ## **`PRESENT`** ``` THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE VIJU ABRAHAM ``` ``` THURSDAY, THE 24[TH] DAY OF AUGUST 2023 / 2ND BHADRA, 1945 WP(C) NO. 27271 OF 2022 ``` ## **`PETITIONER:`** ``` GIGI MATHEW, CHUDUKATTIL HOUSE CHEKKIDIKADU.P.O ALAPUZHA - 689573 ``` ``` BY ADV UNNI. K.K. (EZHUMATTOOR) ``` ## **`RESPONDENTS:`** - **`1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT REVENUE DEPARTMENT , GOVT. SECRETARIATE THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695001`** - **`2 LAND REVENUE COMMISSIONER PUBLIC OFFICE BUILDINGS, OPP. MUSEUM VIKAS BHAVAN, THIRUVANATHAPURAM - 695033`** - **`3 DISTRICT COLLECTOR CIVIL STATION, ALAPUZHA - 688012`** - **`4 REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICE, ALAPUZHA - 688001`** - **`5 LOCAL LEVEL MONITORING COMMITTEE THAKAZHY GRAMA PANCHAYATH, REPRESENTED BY CONVENER AGRICULTURAL OFFICER THAKAZHY , ALAPUZHA DISTRICT - 668562`** - **`6 VILLAGE OFFICER VILLAGE OFFICE, THAKAZHY - 688562 BY SR.GP REKHA C.NAIR`** ``` THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON ``` ``` 24.08.2023, ALONG WITH WP(C).25122/2018 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ``` W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 4 ## **VIJU ABRAHAM, J.** **................................................................. W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 .................................................................** Dated this the 24[th] day of August, 2023 ## **JUDGMENT** Since similar and interconnected issues are involved in these writ petitions, all these writ petitions are disposed of by a common judgment. All the orders under challenge in the other two writ petitions are challenged in W.P.(C) No.27271 of 2022 also, so the same is treated as leading case and the facts in the said case is adverted to in this judgment. 2. Petitioner is in ownership of 19.35 Ares of land in Sy. No.561/1-2 and 41.92 Ares in Sy. No.561/2-2 (total 61.27 Ares) in Block No.30 of Thakazhy Village in Kuttanadu Taluk. He purchased the property in the year 2007. The property belonging to the petitioner is not a paddy land and the same was converted even before 2008. Thereupon petitioner made an application under the provisions of Kerala Land Utilization Order, 1967 (KLU Order) for permission to use the reclaimed land for other purposes in 2007. When the matter is pending consideration before the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) for permission to use the converted property for other purposes, petitioner got information that W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 5 there is a possibility to auction the right to cultivate in the reclaimed property by the 4[th] respondent RDO. Thereupon petitioner approached this Court filing W.P.(C) No.20815 of 2008 against the proposed action and the said petition was disposed of on 28.07.2008 as per Ext.P1 judgment with a direction to the respondents not to take any action under the KLU Order except after hearing the petitioner and passing an order to that effect. Pursuant to the direction issued in Ext.P1, the 4[th] respondent heard the petitioner after issuing Ext.P2 hearing notice in this regard. After hearing was over, nothing was heard from the part of the 4[th] respondent. Petitioner was in a bonafide belief that the 4[th] respondent had dropped all the proceedings. Subsequently after a period of 3 years, petitioner again made an application before the 4[th] respondent to use the property for other purposes including construction activities. Accordingly the 4[th] respondent after verification of all the records and after obtaining reports from the Village Officer and the Tahsildar issued Ext.P3 certificate dated 18.02.2011 in which it is categorically stated that the property owned by the petitioner is not a paddy land and the same is a reclaimed residential plot. On the very same date of issuance of Ext.P3, 4[th] respondent issued Ext.P4 letter addressed to the local authority and directed to grant permission to the petitioner to use the property to construct a building. Petitioner submits that Exts.P3 and P4 could be treated as permission under the KLU W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 6 Order, since the petitioner has made the applications in 2007 as well as in 2011 for permission under the KLU Order. In the mean time the Kerala Conservation of Paddy land and Wetland Act, 2008 (in short, “the Act of 2008”) came in to force with effect from 12.08.2008 and a data bank of cultivable paddy land was published. In the draft data bank prepared under the Act of 2008 the property owned by the petitioner is not included as a paddy land, but noted as “converted residential plot”. Now after obtaining the satellite images from the KSRSEC and after proper field verification and also after verification of records the property has been removed from the data bank as is evident from Ext.P5. Thereafter Petitioner constructed a residential building there and obtained electricity connection, water connection etc. and the Panchayat has also assigned building number. The petitioner is now using the property as a sales depot to stock and sell mineral product for which he has obtained a dealers license to stock and sell the granite aggregates and ordinary earth from the Geology Department. To the surprise of the petitioner, after a period of 8 years, the 4[th] respondent RDO issued a hearing notice on 05.01.2016. Petitioner appeared before the RDO and enquired about the notice and at that time the RDO informed him that the same was issued pursuant to the direction issued by this Court in the year 2008 in W.P (C) No.20815 of 2008. Later the 4[th] respondent issued Ext.P7 order W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 7 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 which is a composite order under the KLU Order and Kerala Land Conservancy Act. As per the said order the 4[th] respondent issued several directions even outside the purview of the power granted to him by the KLU Order and the Land Conservancy Act. The 4[th] respondent issued a further direction to the Tahsildar to remove the encroachments and to the Panchayat to cancel the building number already allotted. The 4[th] respondent also directed as per Ext.P7 order to the Geologist to cancel the licence. By Ext.P7 order the 4[th] respondent annulled the earlier orders issued by his predecessor and recommended for departmental action against the then RDO. Petitioner submits that all the above are illegal acts on the part of the 4[th] respondent RDO and that a permission granted by the earlier RDO cannot be annulled by the present RDO. Since Ext.P7 was a composite order petitioner preferred an appeal as well as revision before the 2[nd] respondent Land Revenue Commissioner. Since the petitioner contemplated under the coercive action pursuant to Ext.P7, he has approached this Court filing W.P C) No.5630 of 2016 challenging Ext.P7 order and this Court has passed an interim direction to maintain status quo. In the meanwhile the 2[nd] respondent Land Revenue Commissioner rejected the revision filed by the petitioner as per Ext.P8 order. Petitioner submits that the actions initiated by Exts.P7 and P8 are absolutely arbitrary and unjust W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 8 inasmuch as Ext.P7 order was issued almost after a period of eight years from the date of issuance of Ext.P2 hearing notice. Petitioner further submits that the 2[nd] respondent has not considered any of the contentions raised by him. While so the 1[st] respondent also rejected the revision petition filed under the Land Conservancy Act against which also petitioner filed W.P.(C) No.7147 of 2018 and W.A.No.1792 of 2019 and as directed by this Court and the District Collector, petitioner has obtained permission from the Assistant Executive Engineer, PWD to use the side of the road as an approach road to his property and on the basis of the same petitioner submits that the only dispute now remaining is regarding the violation of the KLU Order. Even though a revision was filed under Clause 14 of the KLU Order the same was also rejected by the Government as per Ext.P9 order. It is challenging Exts.P7 to P9 orders that W.P.(C) No.25122 of 2018 is filed. Petitioner in the meanwhile submitted an application to remove the property from the data bank based on the KSRSEC report and after site inspection the Local Level Monitoring Committee (LLMC) as per Ext.P10 minutes decided to remove the property of the petitioner from the data bank which was based on Ext.P11 report and Ext.P12 mahazar prepared by the Village Officer. On the basis of the same petitioner would contend that now the final data bank was published wherein the property of the petitioner is not included as is evident from W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 9 Ext.P5. While so, petitioner submitted an application for a building permit to construct a new residential building in the property in addition to the existing building. The said application was forwarded to the Adalath and the Adalath as per Ext.P13 order directed the petitioner to obtain permission to use the property for other purposes. Thereupon on 23.02.2016 petitioner submitted an application as per Section 3A of the Act of 2008 for regularisation of the reclamation. Subsequently, the Government incorporated Section 27A for regularisation of un-notified land in the Act of 2008. Thereupon petitioner has submitted Ext.P14 application before the 4[th] respondent under Section 27A of the Act of 2008. The said application was forwarded to the Village Officer and the Agricultural Officer for their reports, etc. This Court in W.P.(C) No.25122 of 2018 passed Ext.P16 order wherein direction was issued to consider the said application under Section 27A untrammelled by Exts.P7 to P9 orders insofar as it relate to the proceedings under the KLU Order. Finally the 4[th] respondent has passed Ext.P17 order whereby the application submitted by the petitioner under Section 27A has been rejected. While passing Ext.P17 the 4[th] respondent did not take into consideration the direction issued by this Court in Ext.P16 order and the fact that the petitioner’s property is not included in the data bank but rejected the same holding that if the nature of the land is altered it will result in obstruction to the natural flow of the water and W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 10 affect the paddy cultivation in the nearby areas. It is aggrieved by Exts.P7 to P9 orders that the petitioner has approached this Court. 3. A detailed counter affidavit has been filed by the 4[th] respondent mainly contending that as per Ext.R4(a) petitioner submitted an application on 23.08.2007 to convert five cents of paddy land comprising in re-survey Nos.561/1-2 and 561/2-2 of Thakazhy Village under the provisions of the KLU Order for the construction of a dwelling house since he has no other dry land for the same. Without awaiting for orders in this regard from the 4[th] respondent petitioner started conversion of the paddy land and thereupon Ext.R4(b) stop memo was issued on 22.10.2007. There were other complaints also regarding the unauthorised reclamation of paddy land as is evident from Exts.R4(c) and R4(d). It is submitted that later on the petitioner has filed certain applications before the 4[th] respondent in the year 2011 for issuance of certain status certificates of the land owned by him and thereupon the then RDO issued a letter dated 18.02.2011 and the petitioner obtained a building permit for a residential building and converted the same as a sales depot to stock and sell mineral products after obtaining a dealer’s licence from the Geology Department. Departmental actions were taken against the then RDO in connection with the abovesaid letter issued by him on 18.02.2011. When the Act of 2008 came into force a data bank was prepared, but W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 11 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 the property of the petitioner was mistakenly omitted from the data bank and under the cover of the mistake in the data bank petitioner continued to reclaim the remaining portion of the paddy land under the cover of darkness and managed to complete the reclamation during the years 2008-2011. Against the action proposed by the 4[th] respondent, though appeal and revision petitions were filed by the petitioner, same were rejected by the concerned authorities. Earlier letter issued by the RDO has absolutely no legal validity. The decision of the LLMC to remove the property from the data bank is something which should be reviewed since the same is not in consonance with the KSRSEC report. On the basis of the same the 4[th] respondent sought for dismissal of the writ petition. 4. I have heard the contentions of both sides. 5. Admittedly an application was filed before the 4[th] respondent under the provisions of the KLU Order seeking permission to use the reclaimed land for other purposes. On the information obtained by the petitioner that steps will be taken by the 4[th] respondent to auction the right to cultivate the reclaimed property he has approached this Court filing W.P.(C) No.20815 of 2008 which was disposed of as per Ext.P1 judgment dated 28.07.2008 wherein a specific direction was issued to the respondents including the RDO, Alappuzha, not to take any action under the KLU Order against the property belonging to the petitioner, W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 12 except after hearing the petitioner and passing an order to that effect. So as per Ext.P1 judgment this Court permitted the authorities to proceed further with coercive action under the KLU Order with the only rider that same shall be done after hearing the petitioner and passing an order to that effect. Admittedly no further action was taken by the 4[th] respondent in this regard. Thereafter, after a gap of almost three years an application was made by the petitioner to use the property for other purposes including construction activities. On the strength of Exts.P3 and P4 certificates issued by the 4[th] respondent petitioner constructed a building in the subject property. A perusal of Ext.P3 certificate would reveal that the Village Officer has reported that it is a converted land and there are five coconut trees and two mango trees in the said property which are aged three years. So Ext.P3 has been issued after conducting an enquiry through the Village Officer who reported that the property is a converted land. After the coming into force of the Act of 2008 data bank was published and in the said data bank also the property was not included but noted as converted residential plot. After obtaining satellite images from the KSRSEC and after proper field verification and verification of the records the subject property was removed from the data bank as is evident from Ext.P5. The said aspect is evident from Ext.P10 minutes, Ext.P11 report and Ext.P12 mahazar produced along with the writ petition. Thus in the final data W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 13 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 bank published the property of the petitioner is not included. It is pertinent to note that the applicability of Act of 2008 is only in respect of prohibition of conversion or reclamation of paddy land in respect of paddy land in the custody of a person as on the date of commencement of this Act and that the said paddy land can be converted only in accordance with the provisions of the Act of 2008. So for removing the property from the data bank as per the provisions of Section 5 of the Act of 2008, the crucial aspect to be considered is whether the property was a paddy land as on the date of coming into force of the Act and only after being satisfied that the property is converted prior to the coming into force of the Act of 2008 that the same was removed from the data bank and Ext.P5 certificate was issued in this regard. It is pertinent to note that even though the authorities were given permission to proceed further under the KLU Order against the petitioner as per Ext.P1 judgment rendered as early as on 28.07.2008, further action in the matter was taken only as per Ext.P6 hearing notice dated 05.01.2016, ie. after a lapse of almost eight years. This Court in _**Bhoovanachandran v. State of Kerala, 2005 KHC 313**_ , though relating to a service matter, held that delay in passing the orders is violation of the principles of natural justice. Here is a case where though the court has permitted the 4[th] respondent to take appropriate action under the KLU Order, he did not act for almost W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 14 eight years and orders were issued as is evident from Ext.P7 after the petitioner has acted upon the permits granted by the authorities concerned and has constructed a building and is doing business in the said property on the strength of a licence. Therefore the delay occurred in taking appropriate action in time coupled with the fact that the LLMC has found that the property is not liable to be included in the data bank specifically for the reason that the property has been converted prior to 2008, I am of the opinion that the action evidenced by Exts.P7 to P9 are liable to be interfered with. This Court in _**Archana**_ _**Varghese v. District Collector, Pathanamthitta, 2015 (2) KHC 39**_ , had occasion to consider as to whether written permission was required from the Collector concerned under Clause 6 of the KLU Order for using the land for other purposes when the property has been converted prior to the enactment of Act of 2008 and held that no permission from the Collector is required as per the provisions of the KLU Order. In the said judgment it was held that when a land was converted without obtaining permission, necessarily, the Collector ought to have exercised his power under Clause 7 of the KLU Order at the relevant point of time and having failed to invoke the enabling power to prevent conversion, same power cannot be exercised as though a fetter is placed on land to prevent use of land for other purposes. This Court further held that if the paddy was in cultivation W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 15 the power can be exercised only to compel cultivation of paddy alone and no other food crops and when land become uncultivable for the paddy, the enabling power under Clause 7 will also become otiose on the principle that the law does not compel a person to do that which he cannot possibly perform. 6. Admittedly the case of the petitioner is that the property has been converted prior to the coming into force of the Act of 2008 which was found to be correct by the LLMC who upon conducting an enquiry removed the property from the data bank which itself is evident from the fact that the property was converted prior to 2008. Even though this Court as per Ext.P1 judgment permitted the authorities to take appropriate action under the KLU Order if any violation is found, for almost eight years from the date of Ext.P1 judgment no action was taken in this regard. Therefore the finding of this Court in _**Archana Varghese**_ ‘s case supra that the Collector ought to have taken action at the relevant point of time when violation under the KLU Order was came to his notice squarely applies to the facts and circumstances of the present case. It is also to be noted that the petitioner has made necessary requests for permissions before the 4[th] respondent and the 4[th] respondent itself has entered a finding in Ext.P3 that the property is a converted land and that permission could be granted for construction of a building and on the basis of Exts.P3 and P4 that construction was W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 16 undertaken by the petitioner. By Ext.P5 certificate it is categoric that the property is not included in the data bank also. Thereafter acting on Exts.P3 and P4 petitioner constructed a building which was subsequently being numbered by the local authority and the petitioner is running a business after obtaining necessary permit/consent from the Geology Department. By Ext.P7 order all the proceedings initiated pursuant to the directions issued in Exts.P3 and P4 were directed to be cancelled. It is settled law that power of review is not inherent on the authorities and the same can be invoked by the authorities only when the statute specifically provides for the same. The learned Government Pleader could not substantiate that the Act provides for review by the RDO of its own order and therefore I am of the opinion that the action taken pursuant to Ext.P7 is without any basis and consequently Exts.P8 and P9 orders in the appeal and revision against the said order are also liable to be interfered with. 7. Yet another aspect of the matter is the power under Clause 6(2) of the KLU Order after the introduction of Section 27A of the Act of 2008. A Division Bench of this Court in _**Thomas V.J. v. State of Kerala and others, 2020 KHC 728**_ , has held that consequent to the introduction of Section 27A of the Act of 2008, Clause 6(2) of the KLU Order has become redundant and has lost its relevance. Therefore the rejection of application submitted by the petitioner under Section 27A W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 17 for the reason that the paddy land has been unauthorisedly reclaimed is liable to be interfered with. As regard the other reason that permitting change of nature of land will affect the agricultural operations nearby and the free flow of water, it is to be noted that permission for change of use of land was requested after the property has been reclaimed long back, ie., before the coming into force of the Act of 2008. As per the provisions of the Act of 2008 it is very clear that only in respect of un-notified land the provisions of Section 27A would apply which itself make it clear that the property has been converted prior to the coming into force of the Act of 2008. This Court in _**Pious @**_ _**Peeyus Varkey v. Revenue Divisional Officer, Fort Kochi and**_ _**another, 2021 (4) KHC 190**_ , has held that the provision in Section 27A for setting apart 10% of land for water conservancy measures, etc. are to be ordered only after the application under Section 27A of the Act of 2008 is allowed and not before that. The LLMC on finding that the property is not a paddy land and it is converted prior to the coming into force of the Act of 2008 will also be verified whether the conversion will in any way affect the neighbouring agricultural land and also as to whether it will affect the free flow of water to the neighbouring property, etc. The property has been removed from the data bank only on finding that such impediment were not in the said property. In view of the above, I am of the opinion that the application submitted by the W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 18 petitioner under Section 27A of the Act of 2008 is liable to be reconsidered by the 4[th] respondent. Therefore, Ext.P17 is set aside with a direction to the 4[th] respondent to reconsider the application submitted by the petitioner in Form VII under Section 27A of the Act of 2008 in accordance with law after affording an opportunity of being heard to the petitioner within a time limit of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. As regard the review of the earlier order passed by the Revenue Divisional Officer as per Ext.P7 which was confirmed as per Exts.P8 and P9, I am of the opinion that the 4[th] respondent has no power to review an order passed by the earlier RDO. Moreover, it is to be seen that the petitioner has constructed a building as per Ext.P3 certificate issued by the 4[th] respondent and the said building has been numbered by the local authority and the petitioner is now conducting a business there after obtaining necessary licence from the Geology Department and now by Ext.P7 an order has been issued almost after eight years from the date of Ext.P1 judgment whereby the earlier permission granted by the RDO was found to be wrong and that all the permission/permissions granted for construction of the building for running the business, etc. were cancelled. It is also to be noted that the aspect as to whether the property has been converted prior to 2008 has been considered by the LLMC and found that the property has been converted prior to 2008 W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 19 and therefore the property has been removed from the data bank also. Taking all these aspects into consideration, I am of the opinion that Exts.P7 to P9 are liable to be set aside. Accordingly I do so. W.P.(C) No.27271 of 2022 is accordingly disposed of. In view of the order passed by this Court in W.P.(C) No.27271 of 2022 no further orders are required in W.P.(C) Nos.5360 of 2016 and 25122 of 2018 and are accordingly closed. Sd/- **VIJU ABRAHAM** **JUDGE** cks W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 20 ## **`APPENDIX OF WP(C) 5630/2016`** ``` PETITIONER EXHIBITS ``` ``` EXHIBIT P1:TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE ISSUED BY THE VILLAGE OFFICER DATED 22.10.2007 EXHIBIT P2:TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 08.02.2008 OF THE TAHASILDAR, KUTTANADU EXHIBIT P3:TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGEMENT DATED 13.03.2008 IN WPC.NO.8040/2008 EXHIBIT P4:TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGEMENT DATED 28.07.2008 IN WPC.NO.20815/2008 EXHIBIT P5:TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE DATED 05.12.2008 FOR HEARING ON 24.12.2008 ISSUED BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT EXHIBIT P6:TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE DATED 18.02.2011 ISSUED BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT EXHIBIT P7:TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 18.02.2011 ISSUED TO THE SECRETARY THAKAZHY GRAMA PANCHAYTH EXHIBIT P8:TRUE COPY OF THE DATA BANK PREPARED BY THE AGRICULTURAL OFFICER EXHIBIT P9:TRUE COPY OF THE DEALERS LICENSE ISSUED BY THE GEOLOGY DEPARTMENT EXHIBIT P10:TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE ISSUED BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT FOR HEARING ON 18.01.2016 EXHIBIT P11:TRUE COPY OF THE STATEMENT GIVEN BY THE PETITIONER EXHIBIT P12:TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 25.01.2016 OF THE 4TH RESPONDENT EXHIBIT P13:TRUE COPY OF THE APPEAL FILED BY THE PETITIONER AGAINT THE ORDER OF THE 4THR RESPONDENT ``` W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 21 ## **`APPENDIX OF WP(C) 25122/2018`** ``` PETITIONER EXHIBITS ``` ``` EXHIBIT P1:TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 13/03/2008 IN WPC.NO.8040/2008 EXHIBIT P2:TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 28/07/2008 IN WPC.NO.20815/2008 EXHIBIT P3:TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE DATED 05/12/2008 FOR HEARING ON 24/12/2008 ISSUED BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT EXHIBIT P4:TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE DATED 18/02/2011 ISSUED BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT EXHIBIT P5:TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 18/02/2011 ISSUED TO THE SECRETARY THAKAZHY GRAMA PANCHAYATH EXHIBIT P6:TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE ISSUED BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT FOR HEARING ON 19/01/2016 EXHIBIT P7:TRUE COPY OF THE STATEMENT GIVEN BY THE PETITIONER EXHIBIT P8:TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 25/01/2016 OF THE 4TH RESPONDENT EXHIBIT P9:TRUE COPY OF THE INTERIM ORDER DATED 15/02/2016 IN WPC.NO.5630/2016 EXHIBIT P10:TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 11/07/2017 OF THE LAND REVENUE COMMISSIONER EXHIBIT P11:TRUE COPY OF THE REVISION PETITION DATED 07/08/2017, FILED BY THE PETITIONER UNDER CLAUSE 14 OF KLU ORDER. EXHIBIT P12: TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED ``` W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 22 ``` 08/09/2017 IN WPC.NO.31180/2017 ``` ``` EXHIBIT P13:TRUE COPY OF THE INTERIM ORDER DATED 02/03/2018 IN WPC.NO.7147/2018 EXHIBIT P14:TRUE OCPY OF THE LETTER DATED 18/02/2018 SENT TO THE ADDL. SECRETARY EXHIBIR P15:TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE DATED 28/03/2018 ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT EXHIBIT P16:TRUE COPY OF THE EMAIL DATED 09/04/2018 SENT TO THE 1ST RESPONDENT EXHIBIT P17:TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE DATED 12/04/2018 ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT EXHIBIT P18:TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 18/05/2018 OF THE ADDL. SECRETARY ON BEHALF OF THE 1ST RESPONDENT EXT.P20TRUE COPY OF THE MINUTES DATED 2.3.2019 OF THE 4TH RESPONDENT OBTAINED UNDER THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT EXT.P21TRUE COPY OF THE REPORT OF THE VILLAGE OFFICER DATED 4.2.2019 EXT.P22TRUE COPY OF THE MAHAZAR DATED 4.2.2019 PREPARED BY THE VILLAGE OFFICER EXT.P23TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT EXT.P24TRUE COPY OF THE DECISION DATED 27.7.2019 EXT.P25TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 23.02.2016 WITH CHALLAN EXT.P26TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 17.7.2019 WITH THE COPY OF THE CHALLAN ``` W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 23 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 |`EXT.P27`|`TRUE COPY OF THE MAHAZAR AND SKETCH`| |---|---| ||`DATED 7.8.2019 OF VILLAGE OFFICER`| |`EXT.P28`|`TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED`| ||`24.10.2019 OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT`| |`EXT.P29`|`TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 5.4.2021`| ||`SUBMITTED ON 8.4.2021 OF THE 3RD`| ||`RESPONDENT`| |`EXT.P30`|`TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED`| ||`23.02.2022 ISSUED BY THE 3RD`| ||`RESPONDENT`| |`EXT.P31`|`TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED`| ||`3.03.2022 SUBMITTED TO THE 3RD`| ||`RESPONDENT`| |`EXT.P32`|`TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 9.3.2022`| ||`OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT`| W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 24 ## **`APPENDIX OF WP(C) 27271/2022`** ``` PETITIONER EXHIBITS ``` ``` Exhibit P1TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 28.7.2008 IN W.P[C] NO.20815/2008 Exhibit P2TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE DATED 5.12.2008 FOR HEARING ON 24.12.2008 ISSUED BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT Exhibit P3TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE DATED 18.2.2011 ISSUED BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT Exhibit P4TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 18.2.2011 ISSUED TO THE SECRETARY THAKAZHY GRAMA PANCHAYATH Exhibit P5TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE DATED 18.12.2020 ISSUED BY THE 5TH RESPONDENT Exhibit P6TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE ISSUED BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT FOR HEARING ON 19.1.2016 Exhibit P7TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 25.1.2016 OF THE 4TH RESPONDENT Exhibit P8TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 11.7.2017 OF THE LAND REVENUE COMMISSIONER Exhibit P9TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 18.5.2018 OF THE ADDL. SECRETARY ON BEHALF OF THE 1ST RESPONDENT Exhibit P10TRUE COPY OF THE MINUTES DATED 2.3.2019 OF THE 5TH RESPONDENT OBTAINED UNDER THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT Exhibit P11TRUE COPY OF THE REPORT OF THE VILLAGE OFFICER DATED 4.2.2019 Exhibit P12TRUE COPY OF THE MAHAZAR DATED ``` W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 25 - `4.2.2019 PREPARED BY THE VILLAGE OFFICER` - `Exhibit P13 TRUE COPY OF THE DECISION DATED 27.7.2019` - `Exhibit P14 TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 17.7.2019 WITH THE COPY OF THE CHALLAN` - `Exhibit P15 TRUE COPY OF THE MAHAZAR AND SKETCH DATED 7.8.2019 OF VILLAGE OFFICER` - `Exhibit P16 TRUE COPY OF THE INTERIM ORDER DATED 29.3.2021 IN WP[C] NO.25122/2018` - `Exhibit P17 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 9.3.2022 OF THE 4TH RESPONDENT` - `Exhibit P18 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED10.12.2019 OF ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, PWD` - `Exhibit P19 TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 22.11.2019 SUBMITTED TO THE TAHASILDAR, KUTTANDAU` - `Exhibit P20 TRUE COPY OF THE REPORT DATED 25.11.2019 OF THE VILLAGE OFFICER, THAKAZHI` - `Exhibit P21 TRUE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWING THE SIMILAR TYPE OF ROAD ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD` - `RESPONDENT EXHIBITS` - `EXHIBIT R4(a) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION OF THE PETITIONER AND THE REPORT OF THE VILLAGE OFFICER, THAKAZHY` ``` EXHIBIT R4(b)TRUE COPY OF THE STOP MEMO DATED 22.10.2007 ISSUED BY THE VILLAGE OFFICER, THAKAZHY EXHIBIT R4(c)TRUE COPY OF THE COMPLAINT RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC EXHIBIT R4(d)PRESS CUTTING, WITH REGARD TO THE ``` W.P.(C) Nos. 27271 of 2022, 5630 of 2016 & 25122 of 2018 **==> picture [12 x 8] intentionally omitted <==** ``` RECLAMATION, DATED 24.01.2008 EXHIBIT R4(e)TRUE COPY OF THE KSREC REPORT ```