Disposed

Cheemala Venkateswarlu v. The Forest Range Officer

Telangana HC17 Apr 2023WP/36931/2018

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Writ petition filed by tribal petitioners challenging dispossession and interference with their patta lands by forest authorities. Court directed respondents not to dispossess petitioners without due process while restraining petitioners from encroaching on non-patta reserve forest areas.

What did the court decide?

Respondents directed not to dispossess petitioners from patta land without due process; petitioners restrained from encroaching on reserve forest and cutting trees in such areas.

Cheemala Venkateswarlu Vs The Forest Range Officer — Land Acquisition | Telangana HC (2023)

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[³³⁰³ ]

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IN THE HIGH COURT FOR^{THE STATEOF TELANGANA} AT HYDERABAD (SPecial Original Jurisdiction)

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MONDAY, THE SEVENTEENTH^{DAY OF APRIL} TWO THOUSAND AND^{TWENTY THREE}

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PRESENT

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THE HONOURABLE SRI^{JUSTICEJ. SREENIVAS RAO}

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WRIT PETITIO N^{NO:36931 OF 2018}

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Between:

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Cheemala Venkateswarlu,^{S/o Papaiah, Aged 28 Yrs', Og Agri.culture,R/o} ' FrnJipJ.prta Viitrg", 'Bayyaram Mandal, Mahabubabad (Khammam) District.

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Goggala Manga^{mma, W/o Laxmaiah, Aged 65 Yrs., Occ- Agriculture,Fl/o} Pandipampula Village, Bayyaram^Mandal, Mahabubabad^(Khammam) District.

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3 Pavam Valamma, S/o^{Buchi Ramulu'Aged 55 Yrs., Occ- Agriculture,Rl/o} irrliiprrpriJ Vitt"ge,^{Bavvaramtuaidal' Mahabubabad(Khammam)} District.

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Alem Narasamma,^{W/o Nagaiah,} Aged 60 Yrs., Occ- Ag riculture, R/o Pandipampula Village,^BaYYaram Mandal, Mahabubabad (Khammam) District.

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Kinnera Jayamma,^{W/o Narasaiah,} |g"d. 10 Jt?'',O99-.1S'igy|t!t":^49 - PinOipampula Village, Bayyaram Mandal, Mahabubabad (Khammam) District.

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Kinnera Santhamma,^{Wio Yerraiah,Aged 45 Yrs., occ-Agriculture'Fl/o} - i;i'"oipi.prii - Virrag",' -Bryvata, M;ndal, Mahabubabad (Khammam) District.

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Payam Rambai,^W/o Borraiah, Aged⁴⁵ Yrs., Occ- Agriculture,^Fl/o Pandipampula^Village, Bayyaram Mandal, Mahabubabad^(Khammam) District.

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Banoth Biki,^{W/o Baluji, Aged+9} Yq',^{Occ-Agricultule., FUo Pandipampula} - Vilhg;, aiftarrm r'/lan1ial, "Mahabubabad (Khammam) District'

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Eesam^{Nagesh, S/o Swamy, nsqg S1} .^{Yrs.',Occ- Agric.ulture'Fi/o} " F;ililu.brji- Vittag",^-eavv'r,a-- Mandal, Mahabubabad (Khammam) District.

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Cheemala^{Pitchaiah,S/o Narasaiah,} -Aged⁸⁰ -Yrs',^{Occ-Agricy................lture'Fl/o} '- FunJipr.prti- Vittage,^- Bayyaram Ma=ndal, Mahabubabad (Khammam) District.

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1 "^'1 . Cheemala F;il;;;pt'rr-Vltrag", An.iamma,^{W/o -Bavva"' Venkanna,.} Haa-ndal,^Aged .40. Mahabubabad^{Yrs',Occ- Agricu.lture'} (Khammam)^Fi/o District.

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Vuke Liaxmi, V//o Veeraswamv. Aged 35 Yrs., tl:r:- Agrrcullure. Fyo

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Pandiparnpula r,/illage, Bayyar:am Mandal, lVlahabrr ;.abad (Khammam)

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District.

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l3.lvlaloth Hemli , 9/o^{Thaavurya,Aged60} Yrs., O,::. I,qriculture, R/o

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Pandiparnpulzr ,,/rllage, Bayyaram Mandal, Mahaht,lt;rbaj (Khammam) District.

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14.Kalthi Laxma ah, S/o Ramaiah, Aged 50 Yrs., Or::. Aqriculture. FIo

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Pandiparnpula^/illaoe. District. Bayyaram Mandal, lVahahr. tr:rba,l (Khammam)

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Chatla L.axmi, \V/o Veeraswamv. Aged 45 Yrs.,⁽⁾ :c:- A.qriculture. R/o Pandiparnpr-lla /illage, eayyardi Manda l, Mahabut,;,rbad (Khammam)

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District.

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16.Payam S amak ,?,,,ylo Buchi Ramulu, Aged. 34 yrs , O::_ l\griculture, Ryo Pandipanrpula /iltage, Bayyaram Maidat, l,larrabj: ;iaii'"f"xlrirrnrry District,

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17.Joga Bhadran ma, W/o Pothaiah, Aged 60 Yrs., Or):. Aqriculture. Ryo Pandipanrpula Villaoe. Bayyaram Mandal, Mahabu::rbacr (Khammam)

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District

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1. lslavath Salar rrra, Wo _^{Srinu, Aged 35 yrs} , Oc;- Ar:riculture R/o Pandipanrputa \illaqe, District uayyaram Mandal, Mahab..ttre bai' lXnammaml

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'19. Chintha Flamb ,: y; mma, Wo Venkanna Aged 30 yrs., ():,;_ l,griculture, R/o Pandipan pula District viltase, Bayyaram uanda[^{-Mrh;6,rj;;;u;',} ikii.n'nr.nl

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Nagaboin,r Lar m , W/o Muthaiah, Aged .35 Yrs., Crcr,.. Ar;riculture, R/o

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DistrictPandipampula Villaqe, Bayyaram Mandal, Mahabut,illlad' lKnammamJ

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Nagaboinir Kar.,a.a. Wo Jagga Rao, Aged g0 yrs., 0;c - Agriculture. Rt/o V trage, aaiiaram^-'N,ia"nilt, MLhaburarrad (Khammam)

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Bill5rror,u

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22.llem. Narasarrr nz,, W/o ^Laxmaiah,^{Aged40 yrs., Occ-Arlriculture.R/o}

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Bfl?rl:?rntor,,^{vilase, Bayyaram'M"andat,- rrlrnLou[,,,,rj,'iifi;;.;;j}

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Cheemala Nari,saiah. S/o^ pitchaiah, .fOeA aO yrs., Ck r;. Alyrrculture, RIo figrlprrrrrto^{Vi[age, Bayyaram'rrrfi"nOaf,''t\iahabubat:,ad(Khammam)}

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24.Thati Kistamma .\V/o^{BuchiRamulu,Aged40- yrs.,} C)cr:.. Artriculture, Rt/o Pandipampula District. Vi rage, Bayyaram Maidat, tuih juuo ai,ao'-" f"{nJr."r)

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25.Thati l,4uthaiah, S;/o Veeraswamy, Aged 70 Yrs., O,l(i Aqriculture. R/o Pandipampula /illage, Bayyaram Mandal, Mahabuo,ttrad (Khammam) District.

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1. Thati Nagalaxn r, W/o Pottaiah, Aged 35 Yrs., Occ. Aqlculture, R/o Pandipamp,uta /illaoe. Bayyaram Mandal, lvlahabub;r:ad (Khammam) District.

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Goggula (;ha ncl^-aliala. Wo Raju, Yrs.. Oc:c- Aqriculture. Rl/o

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Pandipampula iilaqe. Bayyaram^Aged Mandal,³⁵ lVahabubir .l.ld- (Khammam.l District.

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28.Chintha Bhulaxmi, Wo Laxmaiah, Aged 36 Yrs., Occ- Agriculture, FUo Pandipampula Villaqe. Bayyaram lVandal, lVlahabubabad (Khammam) District.

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29.Made Sudhakar, S/o Papaiah, Aged 30 Yrs., Occ- Agriculture, R/o Pandipampula Village, Bayyaram Mandal, Mahabubabad (Khammam) District.

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30.Pusam Naresh, S/o Lingaiah, Aged 30 Yrs., Occ- Agriculture, R/o Pandipampula Village, Bayyaram Mandal, Mahabubabad (Khammam) District.

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Kinnera Venkatamma, W/o Veeraswamy, Aged 35 yrs_, Occ- Agriculture, Fl/o Pandipampula Village, Bayyaram triiandal, Mahabubabad^- (Khammam) District.

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Mallela Kousalya, Wo Bhadraiah, Aged 40 Yrs., Occ- Agriculture, Fl/o Pandipampula Village, Bayyaram Mandai, Mahabubabad (Khammam) District.

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33.Vuke Nagesh, Sfo Papaiah, Aged 35 Yrs., Occ- Agriculture, Ft/o Pandipampula Village, Bayyaram ftilandal, IVlahabubabad (Khammam) District.

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34.Vuke Shiva Krishna, S/o Pullaiah, Aged 30 Yrs., OccAgriculture, Rl/o Pandipampula Village, Bayyaram Mandal, Mahabubabad (Khammam) District.

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1. Vuke Venkatamma, Wo Pullaiah, Aged 55 Yrs., Occ- Agriculture, F/o Pandipampula Village, Bayyaram Mandal, Mahabubabad (Khammam) District.

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Pandipampula tvluthi Kantha Rao, Village, S/o BayyaramNagaiah, AgMandal,^{ed 35} Yrs., Mahabubabad Occ- Agriculture, (Khammam)R/o District.

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37.Vuke Sujatha, W/o Ramudu, Aged 35 Yrs., Occ- Agriculture, Rl/o Pandipampula Village, Bayyaram Mandal, Mahabubabad (Khammam) District.

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1. Borra Krishna, S/o Chennaiah, Aged 30 Yrs., Occ- Agriculture, R/o Pandipampula Village, Bayyaram Mandal, IVlahabubabad (Khammam) District.

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39.Suvarnapaka Sunitha, Wo Laxminarayana, Aged 40 Yrs., Occ- Agriculture, Rl/o Pandipampula Village, Bayyaram Mandal, Mahabubabad (Khammam) District.

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40.Chintha Vinod, S/o Veeraswamy, Aged 26 Yrs., Occ- Agriculture, Rl/o Pandipampula Village, Bayyaram Mandal, Mahabubabad (Khammam) District.

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41 . Kunja Maheswari, Wo Sinesh, Aged 23 Yrs-, Occ- Agriculture, Rl/o Pandipampula Village, Bayyaram Mandal, Mahabubabad (Khammam) District.

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42.Mada Bixam, Sio Papaiah, Aged 40 Yrs., Occ- Agriculture, R/o Pandipampula Village, Bayyaram Mandal, Mahabubabad (Khammam) District.

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Goggala Rani, W/o Late Prasad, Aged 30 Yrs., Occ- Agriculture, R/o Pandipampula Village, Bayyaram Mandal, lvlahabubabad (Khammam) District.

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...PETITIONERS

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AND

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'1 . The Forest Ran le Officer, Bayyaram Range, Bayyaram IVzrhabubabad District.

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The Forest Divir ional Officer, Mahabubabad,^{fVlahabubabir] District.}

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The Distrir;t^{For, :st Officer,} Mahabubabad^{District, Mahabttb;lbaC.}

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The State of Te: arrgana, Rep.by its^{Prinicipal Secretary,F:r':stDepartment,} Secretariate, H1 dcrabad.

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Petition under Article 226 of the^{constitution of lndiil praying that in the} circumstances stater: ir the^{affidavit filedtherewith, theF ic;h ()ourt may be} pleased to issue a t Vr t, Order or direction^{more in the nz1t. re of l/andamus} declaring actio.r of the^{respondentsin highhandedlyirlt:rferingwith the} possession and enjo\ ment of the land by^{the petitioners in Survey l\os.74 and its} parts, -Pamd 75, 131/19/AA artd 13111731AA^{and its parts in various e:xtents situated in} ipampula/,Jagat lraopeta^{Village of Kambalapally Grarr:aPanchayat of} Bayyaram Manclal,^{M ahabubabad Districtwithoutpower and juflscictionand the} same is arbitra ry,^{ile-oal and violativeof Article 14' 21 end 300(A) of the} Constitution of lndia arrd consequentially^{declarethat the F e:;po rdents cannot} dispossess the^Detitii nr:rs^{from their respective pattylatrds.}

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lA NO: 1 OF 2018

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Petition Llnder S(,'ction 151^{CPC prayingthat in the cir: um:;tances stated} in the affidavit liled irr s,upport of^{the petition,the High Court rrtay be pleasedto} issue an interirn dirt ction directing^{the Respondentsnot trl interferewiththe} possession an(l enj( yrnent of the^property in^{respect of .lr,: lttnd in Survey} Nos.74 and its parts,75,^{131l19lAA and 1311173iAA ancli.:,; parts in various} extents situated irr l)amdipampula/Jagathraopeta^{Villag€ ofKambalapally} Grampa Panchayat of Bayyaram^{tvlandat, lr4ahabubaba:Diritrictpending} disposal of the above writ^petition-

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Counsel for the Petil oners:^{SRI KRISHNA KISHOREKOWLll l}

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Counsel for the Res;^{,ondents: GP FOR FORESTS}

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The Court made the 'ollowing:^ORDER

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HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE J. SREENTVAS RAO

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W,RIT PETITION No.36931 of 2018

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ORDER:

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This writ petition has been fiied seeking a Writ of Mandamus declaring that the action of the respondents in highhandedly interfering with the possession ald enjoyment of the land of the petitioners in Sy.Nos.74 and its parts, 75, l3l / 19 / AA and 131/ t73 /AA and its parts in various extents situated in pamdipampula/ Jagattrraopeta Village of Karnbalapally Gram Panchayat of Bayyaram Mandal, Mahabubabad District without power and jurisdiction and the samc is arbitrary, illegal and violation of Articles ),4, 2l and 3OO (A) of Consritution of India and consequentiy declare that the respondents cannot dispossess the petitioners frorn their respective patta lands.

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Heard Sri Krishna Kishore Kowuri, learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Forests for respondent Nos.1 to 4.

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Learned counsel for the petitioners subrnits that the petitioners belong to Schedule Tribes and they occupied Reserve Forest lands ar'td eking out their livelihood by doing agricultural activities. He further slrbrnits that

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Pattas hav<: leen granted to the petitiorrt,t-:; lty the respondents zurd their names were mutated in tl:e rrtvenue records. Re: pondents have granted assignmer..- pattas in fespect r>f th, : patta subject land. Respondentr; .without issuing any r.olice and without follolving due pr5,,.:sclLrls 4s contemp latecl un<Ier law, interfering with the p,: ts;ess;ion of the subject property and trying to dispossess -hem from the subject la rc .

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Per conl"ri, iearnccl Assistant Governmerri : pieader submits thal t hr: pctitioners cncroachecl tht: psssly6 Forest land ar.ci tlrey are not entitled axy relief as; claimed in the rvrit pelitrotl. .lhis Court u,hile admittinl; the writ petition on 1I.lO.2OlB granted interim directio:r tc, the responder ts rl )t to interfere rvith the propertir:s oi- the Petitionerst cor,:r.cd by pattas However, if ther.r: is any encroachrnen t rf the forest areal respondents arr: entitled to take action, ;t rir:tly in accordance with iaw. ,{t irs rrrade clear that the arrtl-rorities arc entitled to under terke the activities ii-r th, ' area not covercd by pattas. Jt. is ,also made clear tha pc nding rvrit petition, there shzrll not. be arry cutting of t, _-r s

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Having considered the rival submissions made by the respective parties and perused the record. Admittedly, the petitioners are ctaiming the rights basing upon the Pattas granted by the respondents.

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Without going into the other aspects, the writ petition is disposed of directing the respondents not to dispossess the petitioncrs from the subject larrd without following the due proccss of law and also further directed the petitioners not to encroach upon Reserve Forest area and also not to cut any forest growth in the Reserve Forest area.

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Accordingly, the u,rit petition 1S disposed of. No order as to costs.

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As a sequel thereto, miscellaneous applications, if any, pending in this writ petition shall stand lo SO/.P.CH.NAGABHUS BA ASSISTANT REGI TRAR //TRUE COPY//

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To, SECTION FICER 1 5[:r[?:"" Ranse Officer, Bayyaram Range, Bayyaram Mahabubabad 2. 3. 4. Iiifl^{,$11tti't",,.ffi ifu Ifl f ffi #:fl"i$:Ff,,{s,"xi,"} 5. 6. ff 3n33J?iSlHRH[!%?ff f8yy,,,fl ,n:,S81:""tof",,"%,", 7. Two CD Copies BN SB

HIGH COUR'I

DATED:1710412023

/!
t'.
L rI., !ill

ORDER

WP.No.36931 of 2018

DISPOSING C F THE WRIT PETITION WITHOUT COSTS

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(, C-opol.} &rD zeY 3

Cheemala Venkateswarlu v. The Forest Range Officer

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Cheemala Venkateswarlu v. The Forest Range Officer

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

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