HC orders status quo in land dispute involving TN Minister

Alleging aiding of a land grab attempt by a Tamil Nadu Minister, a 70-year-old man moved the Madras High Court which ordered status quo Friday in respect of patta entries, vis-v-vis lands in his possession.

Justice R Mahadevan, before whom the petition from C Anjana Reddy came up, admitted the plea and posted the matter for further hearing to October 8, while directing the revenue authorities to maintain status quo until further orders.

The petitioner submitted that 32.87 acres of agricultural land in Krishnagiri district had all along been in the continuous possession of his family ever since it was bought by his grandfather Petha Hanuma Reddy in 1884 and 1885 from Ramaiah.

The petitioner and his brothers now hold possession of the land, paid tax regulary and cultivated it.

Against this background, Hanumaiyah, a relative of Youth and Sports Development Minister P Balakrishna Reddy, and five others started "giving problems" to his family and civil suits in this connection were pending before the Sub-Court, Hosur.

In the meantime, Balakrishna Reddy included the names of Hanumaiyah and the others in the patta by 'misusing' his office after becoming MLA of the constituency, the petitioner alleged.

After repeated enquiries, the District Revenue Officer passed an order, holding that change of names in the patta was not proper as civil suits in this connection were pending adjudication before the court.

However, when the DRO called for a "fresh enquiry" on August 23 to gain into the matter, it was challenged by the petitioner.

The petitioner sought to quash the order passed by the DRO, calling for a fresh enquiry and not to change the names in the patta till the disposal of suits pending in court.