Village Officers Are Not Allowed To Issue Stop Memos for Dry Land Under Section 12 of Paddy Land Act

The Kerala High Court decided that village officers are not allowed to issue stop memos for land marked as 'purayidom' (dry land) in the Basic Tax Register (BTR) as per Section 12 of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008.

The court explained that the Act gives village officers authority only over paddy land and wetlands alone. 

The village officer issued the stop memo, citing water-logging and a law-and-order situation. 

Since the property was indisputably classified as 'purayidom' in the BTR, the Court held that the village officer lacked jurisdiction to issue the stop memo. 

The petitions were disposed of with directions to adhere to the statutory framework.