Failure to Acknowledge Section 80 CPC Notice: Supreme Court's Ruling on Adverse Inference Against the Government
Failure to Acknowledge Section 80 CPC Notice: Supreme Court's Ruling on Adverse Inference Against the Government Author: Abhishek Jat, Advocate The Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, in Yerikala Sunkalamma & Anr. v. State of Andhra Pradesh, Department of Revenue & Ors. , examined the implications of a government authority’s failure to respond to a statutory notice under Section 80 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC). The Court underscored the importance of acknowledging and responding to such notices, stating that inaction could lead to an adverse inference against the government in litigation. Context of the Case The case revolved around a land dispute in Andhra Pradesh, where the appellants claimed ownership of a 3.34-acre parcel of land. The appellants contended that they had been in uninterrupted possession since 1970, supported by Pattadar Passbooks issued under the Andhra Pradesh Record of Rights in Land and Pattadar Pass Books Act, 1971, and land reve...