Hyderabad: As many as 32 farmers of Medak district had moved the High Court in 2012, challenging the revenue authorities’ moves to acquire their lands in Velimala village in Ramachandrapuram mandal for non-payment of taccavi loans (loan given to poor farmers for agriculture inputs).
According to the farmers, their forefathers had taken loans of Rs 2,000 each in 1958. The Revenue authorities told the court that after the failure of the farmers to repay the loans, the government put the lands for auction.
When no one came forward to buy the lands, the government bought them at the rate of Rs 1 per acre. They contended since it has become government land, they have powers to take it over.
Senior counsel C.V. Mohan Reddy, appearing for the farmers, told the bench that the farmers had repaid their loans long back. The bench observed that there was absolutely no record with Revenue authorities to show that the farmers were indebted to the government.
Maintaining that the authorities have to agree that the farmers are the original owners of the land, the bench said at the best they can ask the farmers for payment of principal amount of Rs 200, with interest.
