Andhra Pradesh High Court has authorized the people of the state to lodge complaint against land grabbing in the court. Pronouncing a judgment, a Bench of the AP High Court declared that citizens can invoke the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 1982, and file cases before the special court to protect endowment lands from illegal encroachments.
The judgment was given over a writ petition filed by Battula Ramaiah and others who complained that the authorities had not acted to protect temple land from a former MLA of Prakasam district.
The Bench said that any person could file an application before the special court if he found that a person or group of persons indulged in grabbing of any land whether belonging to the government, a local authority, a religious or charitable institution or endowment, including a Waqf, or any other private person, without any lawful entitlement.
The verdict gives the right to common citizens to take action themselves when the officers pay no heed to the matter. Poor petitioners can also get free legal aid by the District Legal Services Authority.
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