Wide definition of land under land grabbing law covers building with appurtenant land, making tribunal jurisdiction maintainable.

Under the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 1982, the statutory definition of "land" is wide enough to include buildings, structures and other things attached to the earth. On that basis, unlawful occupation of a building with its appurtenant open land falls within the Act, and the distinction between "building with appurtenant land" and "land along with building" is artificial and hyper-technical. An application describing the subject matter as the house and surrounding vacant land was therefore maintainable before the Special Tribunal, which had jurisdiction to adjudicate the dispute.

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Issues: Whether an application under Section 7-A of the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 1982 seeking possession of a building with its appurtenant open land was maintainable before the Special Tribunal and within its jurisdiction.

Analysis: The Act was enacted to prohibit land grabbing, and its definition of "land" in Section 2(c) expressly includes buildings, structures and other things attached to the earth. On that inclusive definition, grabbing a building attached to land amounts to land grabbing for the purposes of the Act. The distinction drawn between "building with appurtenant land" and "land along with building" was held to be artificial and hyper-technical, as both descriptions substantially represented land for the purpose of the statute. The application filed by the appellant specifically described the subject matter as the house and appurtenant open land, and the pleadings and schedule showed that the dispute covered both the building and the vacant land surrounding it.

Conclusion: The application was maintainable before the Special Tribunal and the Tribunal had jurisdiction to adjudicate the dispute; the High Court's contrary view was erroneous.

Ratio Decidendi: Under the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 1982, the statutory definition of "land" is wide enough to include a building and its appurtenant land, so an application alleging unlawful occupation of such property is maintainable before the Special Tribunal.

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