Pothera Valappil Chemmarathi and others v. Kannur and State of Kerala

## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** ## **`PRESENT`** ## **`THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V.G.ARUN`** ``` TUESDAY, THE 30[TH] DAY OF NOVEMBER 2021 / 9TH AGRAHAYANA, 1943 ``` ## **`CRP(LR) NO. 47 OF 2021`** ``` AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT DATED 30.04.2019 IN AA 124/1996 OF APPELLATE AUTHORITY (LR), KANNUR ``` ## **`REVISION PETITIONER/S/RESPONDENTS 3 TO 6:`** - **`1 POTHERA VALAPPIL CHEMMARATHI AGED 77 YEARS D/O. KUNHI MADHAVI, VELLUR AMSOM, KANDOTH DESOM, POST KANDOTH, KANNUR DISTRICT`** - **`2 POTHERA VALAPPIL LAKSHMI, AGED 74 YEARS`** - **`D/O. KUNHI MADHAVI, VELLUR AMSOM, KANDOTH DESOM, POST KANDOTH, KANNUR DISTRICT`** - **`3 POTHERA VALAPPIL NARAYANI AGED 71 YEARS D/O. KUNHI MADHAVI, VELLUR AMSOM, KANDOTH DESOM, POST KANDOTH, KANNUR DISTRICT`** - **`4 POTHEERA VALAPPIL LAKSHMANAN, AGED 69 YEARS`** - **`S/O. KUNHI MADHAVI, VELLUR AMSOM, KANDOTH DESOM, POST KANDOTH, KANNUR DISTRICT BY ADVS.`** - **`M.SASINDRAN SATHEESHAN ALAKKADAN`** ## **`RESPONDENT/S/APPELLANTS 2 TO 4 AND THE LEGAL HEIRS OF APPELLANTS 1`** ## **`AND 5 AND STATE:`** - **`1 KANNADA SREEDHARAN S/O. KUNHAMBU, VELLUR AMSOM, KANDOTH DESOM, POST KANDOTH,-670 307, KANNUR DISTRICT`** - **`2 KANNADA NARAYANI D/O. KUNHAMBU, VELLUR AMSOM, KANDOTH DESOM, POST KANDOTH,-670 307, KANNUR DISTRICT`** - **`3 KANNADA RAGHAVAN S/O. KUNHAMBU, VELLUR AMSOM, KANDOTH DESOM, POST KANDOTH,-670 307, KANNUR DISTRICT`** - **`4 LAKSHMI W/O. LATE KUNHIRAMAN, KANNADA KUNJIKARAYIL HOUSE,`** ## **`CRP(LR) NO. 47 OF 20 21 AND CONNECTED CASE`** ## **`2`** ``` P.O.KANDOTH, VIA PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DISTRICT,PIN-670 307 ``` - **`5 PRAKASHAN S/O. LATE KUNHIRAMAN, KANNADA KUNJIKARAYIL HOUSE, P.O.KANDOTH, VIA PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DISTRICT,PIN-670 307`** - **`6 BALAKRISHNANA S/O. LATE KUNHIRAMAN, KANNADA KUNJIKARAYIL HOUSE, P.O.KANDOTH, VIA PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DISTRICT,PIN-670 307`** - **`7 BABU S/O. LATE KUNHIRAMAN, KANNADA KUNJIKARAYIL HOUSE, P.O.KANDOTH, VIA PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DISTRICT,PIN-670 307`** - **`8 PRADEEPAN, S/O. LATE KUNHIRAMAN, KANNADA KUNJIKARAYIL HOUSE, P.O.KANDOTH, VIA PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DISTRICT,PIN-670 307`** - **`9 PRAMOD, S/O. LATE KUNHIRAMAN, KANNADA KUNJIKARAYIL HOUSE, P.O.KANDOTH, VIA PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DISTRICT,PIN-670 307`** - **`10 PRASEETHA D/O. LATE KUNHIRAMAN, KANNADA KUNJIKARAYIL HOUSE, P.O.KANDOTH, VIA PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DISTRICT,PIN-670 307`** - **`11 VADAKKEDATH SOBHA W/O. LATE KANNADA NARAYANAN, P.O.KANDOTH,PIN-670 3007, PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DISTRICT`** - **`12 VADAKKEDATH SANU S/O. LATE KANNADA NARAYANAN, P.O.KANDOTH,PIN-670 3007, PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DISTRICT`** - **`13 VADAKKEDATH SUNA D/O. LATE KANNADA NARAYANAN, P.O.KANDOTH,PIN-670 3007, PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DISTRICT`** - **`14 VADAKKEDATH SUNU D/O. LATE KANNADA NARAYANAN, P.O.KANDOTH,PIN-670 3007, PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DISTRICT`** - **`15 STATE OF KERALA`** ## **`CRP(LR) NO. 47 OF 20 21 AND CONNECTED CASE`** ``` 3 ``` ``` REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 001 BY ADVS. P.S.BINU ZUBAIR PULIKKOOL GOVERNMENT PLEADER, ADV. S.UNNIKRISHNAN ``` ``` THIS CRP (LAND REFORMS ACT) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 30.11.2021, ALONG WITH CRP(LR).66/2019, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ``` ``` 4 ``` ## **`CRP(LR) NO. 47 OF 20 21 AND CONNECTED CASE`** ## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** ## **`PRESENT`** ``` THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V.G.ARUN ``` ``` TUESDAY, THE 30[TH] DAY OF NOVEMBER 2021 / 9TH AGRAHAYANA, 1943 CRP(LR) NO. 66 OF 2019 ``` ``` AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT IN AA 125/1996 OF APPELLATE ``` ``` AUTHORITY, KANNUR ``` ## **`REVISION PETITIONER/S//RESPONDENTS 3 TO 6:`** - **`1 POTHERA VALAPPIL CHEMMARATHI AGED 75 YEARS`** - **`D/O. KUNHI MADHAVI, VELLUR AMSOM, KANDOTH DESOM, POST KANDOTH, KANNUR DISTRICT.`** - **`2 POTHERA VALAPPIL LAKSHMI, AGED 72 YEARS`** - **`D/O. KUNHI MADHAVI, VELLUR AMSOM, KANDOTH DESOM, POST KANDOTH, KANNUR DISTRICT.`** - **`3 POTHERA VALAPPIL NARAYANI, AGED 69 YEARS`** - **`D/O. KUNHI MADHAVI, VELLUR AMSOM, KANDOTH DESOM, POST KANDOTH, KANNUR DISTRICT.`** - **`4 POTHEERA VALAPPIL LAKSHMANAN, AGED 67 YEARS`** - **`S/O. KUNHI MADHVAI, VELLUR AMSOM, KANDOTH DESOM, POST KANDOTH, KANNUR DISTRICT.`** - **`BY ADVS. M.SASINDRAN`** - **`SRI.SATHEESHAN ALAKKADAN`** ## **`RESPONDENT/S/APPELLANTS 1 TO 5:`** - **`1 KANNADA KUNHIRAMAN S/O. KUNHAMBU, VELLUR AMSOM, KANDOTH DESOM, POST`** ``` 5 ``` ## **`CRP(LR) NO. 47 OF 20 21 AND CONNECTED CASE`** ``` KANDOTH-670 307, KANNUR DISTRICT. ``` - **`2 KANNADA SREEDHARAN, S/O. KUNHAMBU, VELLUR AMSOM, KANDOTH DESOM, POST KANDOTH-670 307, KANNUR DISTRICT.`** - **`3 KANNADA NARAYANI, D/O. KUNHAMBU, VELLUR AMSOM, KANDOTH DESOM, POST KANDOTH-670 307, KANNUR DISTRICT.`** - **`4 KANNADA RAGHAVAN, S/O. KUNHAMBU, VELLUR AMSOM, KANDOTH DESOM, POST KANDOTH-670 307, KANNUR DISTRICT.`** - **`5 KANNADA NARAYANAN, S/O. KUNHAMBU, VELLUR AMSOM, KANDOTH DESOM, POST KANDOTH-670 307, KANNUR DISTRICT.`** - **`6 STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 001`** - **`7 ADDL. R7. LAKSHMI,(EXPIRED) W/O LATE KUNHIRAMAN, KANNADA KUNJIKARAYIL HOUSE, P.O.KANDOTH, VIA PAYYANUR, KANNUR DISTRICT, PIN – 670304`** - **`8 ADDL. R8. PRAKASHAN,S/O LATE KUNHIRAMAN, KANNADA KUNJIKARAYIL HOUSE, P.O. KANDOTH, VIA PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DISTRICT, PIN - 670307`** - **`9 ADDL. R9. BALAKRISHNAN,S/O LATE KUNHIRAMAN, KANNADA KUNJIKARAYIL HOUSE, P.O. KANDOTH, VIA PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DISTRICT, PIN - 670307`** - **`10 ADDL. R10. BABU,S/O LATE KUNHIRAMAN, KANNADA KUNJIKARAYIL HOUSE, P.O. KANDOTH, VIA PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DISTRICT, PIN - 670307.`** - **`11 ADDL. R11. PRADEEPAN,(EXPIRED) S/O LATE KUNHIRAMAN, KANNADA KUNJIKARAYIL HOUSE, P.O. KANDOTH, VIA PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DISTRICT, PIN - 670307`** - **`12 ADDL. R12. PRAMOD,S/O LATE KUNHIRAMAN, KANNADA KUNJIKARAYIL HOUSE, P.O. KANDOTH, VIA PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DISTRICT, PIN - 670307`** - **`13 ADDL. R13. PRASEETHA,S/O LATE KUNHIRAMAN, KANNADA KUNJIKARAYIL HOUSE, P.O. KANDOTH, VIA PAYYANNUR,`** ``` 6 ``` ## **`CRP(LR) NO. 47 OF 20 21 AND CONNECTED CASE`** ``` KANNUR DISTRICT, PIN - 670307 ``` - **`14 ADDL. R14. VADAKKEDATH SOBHA,W/O LATE KANNADA NARAYANAN, P.O.KANDOTH, PIN – 6703007, PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DISTRICT`** - **`15 ADDL. R15. VADAKKEDATH SANU, W/O LATE KANNADA NARAYANAN, P.O.KANDOTH, PIN – 6703007, PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DISTRICT.`** - **`16 ADDL. R16. VADAKKEDATHU SUNA,W/O LATE KANNADA NARAYANAN, P.O.KANDOTH, PIN – 6703007, PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DISTRICT.`** - **`17 ADDL. R17. VADAKKEDATH SUNU,W/O LATE KANNADA NARAYANAN, P.O.KANDOTH, PIN – 6703007, PAYYANNUR, KANNUR DISTRICT.`** - **`ADDITIONAL RESPONDENTS NO.7 TO 17 ARE IMPLEADED AS THE LEGAL HEIRS OF DECEASED 1ST RESPONDENT (ADDL. RESPONDENT NOS. 7 TO 13) AND DECEASED 5TH RESPONDENT (ADDL. RESPONDENT NOS. 14 TO 17) AS PER THE ORDER DATED 27.07.2021 IN I.A.NO.1/2020 IN CRP (LR) 66/2019`** - **`BY ADVS. SRI.ZUBAIR PULIKKOOL GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.P.S.BINU`** ``` THIS CRP (LAND REFORMS ACT) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 30.11.2021, ALONG WITH CRP(LR).47/2021, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ``` ## **`CRP(LR) NO. 47 OF 20 21 AND CONNECTED CASE`** ## **`7`** ## **O R D E R** ## **Dated this the 30[th] day of November, 2021** The chequered history of these civil revision petitions originate from O.A.No.13332/1975, filed by the predecessor of the petitioners, for issuance of purchase certificate for the land in her possession. The application was allowed by the Land Tribunal. Aggrieved, the predecessor of the first respondent filed appeal which was allowed by the Land Reforms Appellate Authority and the matter remanded to the Land Tribunal. Simultaneously, the predecessor of the first respondent filed O.A.No.23168 of 1976 seeking purchase certificate with respect to the very same property and the original application was allowed. Against that order, predecessor of the petitioners preferred an appeal successfully and got the matter remanded to the Land Tribunal. Thereupon, the Land Tribunal considered the original applications jointly. The original application filed by ## **`CRP(LR) NO. 47 OF 20 21 AND CONNECTED CASE`** ## **`8`** the predecessor of the petitioners was allowed and the application filed by the predecessor of the respondent was rejected. Aggrieved, the respondents filed appeals against that orders and the same were allowed by the Appellate Authority. Thereupon, the petitioners filed civil revision petition Nos. 1341 of 2002 and 1358 of 2002 before this Court. By order dated 25.06.2015, the revision petitions were allowed, the impugned orders of the Appellate Authority set aside and the matter remanded to the Appellate Authority for fresh consideration in accordance with law and based on the observations in the order. 2. After remand, the Appellate Authority failed to pass fresh orders, compelling the petitioners to initiate contempt proceedings. Faced with such a situation, the Appellate Authority hastily passed the orders impugned in these Civil Revision Petitions. 3. Learned Counsel for petitioners drew attention to ## **`CRP(LR) NO. 47 OF 20 21 AND CONNECTED CASE`** ## **`9`** the relevant portion of the order to contend that the Appellate Authority had approached the whole issue with a pre-determined mind. The further contention is that the Appellate Authority itself having observed that the records were not available, committed an illegality in remanding the matter to the Land Tribunal, particularly in the right to the specific direction to the Appellate Authority to consider the matter afresh. 4. It is contended that the finding of the Appellate Authority that the original application is defective, the Executive Officer not being a party, is contrary to the decision in **Narayanan Nair v. State of Kerala [2001(2) KLT 252],** wherein this Court has held that, if the manager appointed under the scheme is a party to the proceedings, there is no requirement of impleading the executive officer. 5. The learned Counsel for the respondents contended that the order of the Appellate Authority warrants no ## **`CRP(LR) NO. 47 OF 20 21 AND CONNECTED CASE`** **==> picture [16 x 9] intentionally omitted <==** interference, inasmuch as the records were not made available by the Land Tribunal. 6. Having heard the learned Counsel and having perused the impugned orders and the direction of this Court in C.R.P. Nos. 1341 of 2002 and 1358 of 2002, I find substantial force in the contention urged by the learned Counsel for the petitioners that the Appellate Authority was bound to consider and pass orders on the appeals on merit, rather than hastily remand the matters to the Land Tribunal. If the records are not made available by the Land Tribunal, it is for the Appellate Authority to take appropriate steps to ensure that the records are received. Non-receipt of records is not a reason for remanding the matters to the Land Tribunal. The proceedings in this matter commenced in the year 1975 and it is only appropriate that the disputes is given quietus at the earliest. The Civil Revision Petitions are disposed of, by setting ## **`CRP(LR) NO. 47 OF 20 21 AND CONNECTED CASE`** ``` 11 ``` aside the impugned orders and remanding matter to the Appellate Authority for consideration in accordance with the directions contained in the Order in C.R.P.No.1341 of 2002 and connected cases and to pass reasoned orders thereon, within six months. Necessary action for obtaining the records from the Land Tribunal shall be taken by the Appellate Authority. Sd/- **V.G.ARUN** **JUDGE** RK