Authority: High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati

Order Date: 07.08.2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: Appellant – Sri Palanati Veerula Devasthanam (temple endowment); Respondents – State of Andhra Pradesh and other officials.
  • Nature of Proceeding: Writ appeal (No. 644 of 2026) against the order dated 29.01.2026 of the learned Single Bench which dismissed Writ Petition No.17325 of 2025 filed by the appellant.
  • Background: The Devasthanam claimed absolute ownership of 6.44 cents (Ac.) of land in Survey No.161, Thulluru Village, Guntur District, gifted to the temple and recorded in RSR (Column 14, Patta No.66) and registered under Board Order No.1990 dated 18‑Apr‑1950 under the Hindu Religious Act, 1927. The land was listed as prohibited under the Registration Act, 1908.
  • Historical Claims: On 12‑Jul‑1960, the then manager, Sri Indurthi Abaddalu, acknowledged that archakas (priests) were cultivating the Inam lands and that the land was in their custody, though no “working inams” were recorded. Form‑VIII Ryotwari pattas were obtained on the same date from the Inam Tahsildar, despite the land being temple property. The Devasthanam was later registered under the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions & Endowments Act, 1987 (proceedings dated 12‑Nov‑1987, Publication Serial No.1375).
  • Government Action: After the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the Government notified Amaravati as the capital and enacted the APCRDA Act, 2014. To resolve land‑acquisition difficulties, G.O. Ms.No.330 dated 11‑Oct‑2018 sanctioned a Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) package as a gracious relief to Ryotwari patta holders and directed compensation to religious institutions under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
  • Subsequent Registrations: Archakas submitted Form 9.3 for plot registration; the Executive Officer consented on 20‑Nov‑2018. On 28‑Jan‑2025, the Special Deputy Collector and Competent Authority (APCRDA) ordered issuance of Form‑9.14 in favour of Sri Indurthi Narasimha Rao for the 6.44‑cent land and directed payment of Rs 1,63,57,600 to the Endowment Department as per G.O. 330.
  • Writ Petition (17325 of 2025): The Devasthanam challenged the registration of the land in favour of the archakas, alleging lack of notice, due process, and violation of the Endowment Act. It sought cancellation of the registrations and restoration of entries in revenue records.
  • Single Bench Decision (29‑Jan‑2026): The bench found no merit, noting that the Devasthanam had never contested the Government Order or the Ryotwari pattas, and that the archakas had been in possession for over 40 years. The petition was dismissed.
  • Appeal Arguments: Senior Counsel V. Venugopala Rao argued that the GO was inapplicable and that the archakas could not become absolute owners. Respondents contended that possession by the archakas was undisputed and that the GO provided lawful relief.
  • Court’s Reasoning: The Court reiterated that G.O. 330 (11‑Oct‑2018) was a gracious relief to Ryotwari patta holders, authorising compensation of Rs 1,63,57,600 to the Endowment Department. It observed that the archakas’ names appear as farmers in revenue records, that the GO has been in subsistence since 2018, and that the appellant never challenged its correctness. Consequently, the appeal lacked merit.

Final Outcome

  • The writ appeal is dismissed with no costs awarded.
  • Any pending miscellaneous applications, if any, are also disposed of.

Topics: Land Dispute, Religious Endowment, Court Decision