S.B. Sinha, J. - (1.) The Petitioner in this application has, inter alia, prayed for the following relief 's: (a) A writ or writs of or in the nature of mandamus do issue commanding the Respondents and each of them to act in accordance with law and forbearing them from taking any steps or further steps to evict the Petitioner from his subject plot of land situated at Village Ramkrishnapur, Hut Bay, Little Andaman in Survey No. 85 and the land adjacent thereto. (b) A writ or writs of or in the nature of mandamus do issue calling upon the Respondents and each of them to regularise the subject plot of land situate in Survey No. 85 and land adjacent thereto which is under occupation of your Petitioner. (c) A writ or writs in the nature of mandamus do issue directing the Respondent Nos. 6, 6A, 7, 8 and 9 to pay compensation and damages to the Petitioner for demolishing his house and destruction of his plantation in the subject plot of land.
(2.) Before entering into the controversies involved in this application, the relevant facts which are material for the purpose of disposal of this application may be noticed. By a notification dated April 17, 1983 published in the Andaman & Nicobar Gazette, Little Andaman measuring an area of 282.46 acres was declared to be a reserve forest within South Andaman Reserve. The entire reserved forest area of Little Andaman excluding the area declared as Tribal Reserve and the areas derisive for non -forestry purposes, was granted in lease by an indenture dated November 20, 1987, executed by the Chief Conservator of Forests, for a period of 30 years in favour of Andaman & Nicobar Islands Forest and Plantation Development Corporation Limited (hereinafter for the sake of brevity referred to as 'the Corporation'), which admittedly is a Government of India undertaking, with retrospective effect from April 1, 1977. The relevant clauses of the said indenture are as follows: 1. The Government hereby agrees to hand over the standing forest in Little Andaman and in North Andaman Forest Division as indicated in the Annexure I. 2. The lessee will be authorised to take over management and administration of the area covered by this lease including functions of its protection from the date of the order of transfer.
(3.) The lessee will have liberty and power to undertake - development and recreation facilities, raising cash crops and plantation crops etc. at their own cost, subject to the general approval of the Government to the effect from time to time.;