Land grabbing requires illegal intention in possession; lack of title alone is insufficient under the Act.

Mere absence of lawful title or entitlement to possession does not by itself amount to land grabbing under the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 1982; the statutory definition requires possession taken with the intention of illegally taking land. The Court found no material to show that the appellant knowingly created a false power of attorney or otherwise entered possession with the requisite mens rea. Circumstances such as prior public notice before purchase, payment of consideration, and the surrounding record were insufficient to establish land-grabber status. The adverse orders were therefore unsustainable.

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Issues: Whether the appellant's possession of the suit land amounted to "land grabbing" so as to attract the definition of "land grabber" under the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 1982.

Analysis: The statutory scheme requires not merely absence of lawful entitlement, but possession taken with a view to illegally take possession of land. The Special Court and the High Court proceeded mainly on the basis that title had not passed under the sale deed and that the appellant was therefore in possession without legal entitlement. The record, however, did not support a finding that the appellant had knowingly created a false power of attorney or otherwise entered into possession with the intention of taking illegal possession. On the contrary, the appellant had published notice inviting objections before purchase, had paid consideration, and the circumstances relied upon against him were insufficient to establish the requisite mens rea for land grabbing.

Conclusion: The appellant was not shown to be a land grabber within the meaning of Sections 2(d) and 2(e) of the Act, and the adverse orders could not stand.

Ratio Decidendi: Mere absence of lawful title or entitlement to possession does not constitute land grabbing unless the person enters into possession with the intention of illegally taking possession.

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