Respondent No.7 filed a counter affidavit, wherein it has claimed that the entire extent of Acs.144.75 cents of land is owned by the Devasthanam, that the Special Deputy Tahsildar (Inams), after holding enquiry under Section 3(3) of the A.P. (Andhra Area) Inams (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1956 (for short ‘the Act’), declared that the lands covered by T.D.No.3145 are inam lands situated in an inam village held by the institution vide his order, dated 28.11.1977, that it was clearly mentioned in the said order that 200 cultivating tenants were present at the time of hearing and they have conceded that the lands were inam lands in an inam village and held by the Devasthanam and that none of the cultivating tenants were present at the subsequent hearing. It is further stated that subsequently the Mandal Revenue Officer conducted survey of the land for issue of ryotwari pattas and by order, dated 16.01.1997, in A.I.A.No.52/77, he has issued ryothwari pattas relating to Acs.378.10 cents of land in various survey numbers in favour of respondent No.7 and that these orders have become final. It is also stated that the Land Acquisition Officer passed awards for a sum of Rs.32,47,057.75 ps as compensation and since there were rival claims, the amount of compensation was deposited in the civil Court for determination of the claims under Sections 30 and 31(2) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. Respondent No.7 has thus denied the right of the petitioners to receive compensation.
