Summary: After 25 years of delays, the court orders action on a land dispute involving lands not included in a 1962 sale certificate. The case highlights bureaucratic inaction and the need for resolution.
In a case that spans decades, the family members of Saleha Fatima Begum have been waiting since 2000 for the resolution of a land dispute. The lands in question were left out of a 1962 sale document, leading to years of legal battles and bureaucratic inaction.
The issue began when certain lands were not included in a Registered Sale Certificate dated December 17, 1962. These lands were originally owned by Nooruddin Hasan and Saifuddin Khalid. Saleha Fatima Begum, their sister, paid for the lands but discovered the omission later. Despite her passing in 1987, her family continued the fight for rightful ownership.
"The person appealing has not only frustrated the purpose of the law but also deprived two generations of the claimed owners of the lands in question."
The family members filed a request in 2000, but Sri Mohan Rao, the responsible officer, failed to act. A 2005 repeal of the Evacuee Interest (Separation) Act further complicated matters, leading to confusion over who had the authority to deal with the case. Despite a 2010 notification, Sri Mohan Rao argued he lacked authority, causing further delays.
Judges Moushumi Bhattacharya and Gadi Praveen Kumar dismissed the appeal by Sri Mohan Rao, criticizing the inaction and ordering the request to be resolved within four weeks. They also imposed a cost of Rs. 50,000, to be paid to the Sainik Welfare, Telangana.
"The shock expressed by the learned Single Judge and imposition of costs is fully justified."
The court's decision requires the responsible officer to resolve the land dispute application within four weeks and pay Rs. 50,000 as a penalty. This decision aims to finally bring closure to the long-standing issue for the heirs of Saleha Fatima Begum.
