Karnataka High Court

H C Revanasiddappa vs The State Of Karnataka on 14 March, 2022

Bench: M.Nagaprasanna

                            1



IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

      DATED THIS THE 14TH DAY OF MARCH, 2022

                      BEFORE

     THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M. NAGAPRASANNA

         CRIMINAL PETITION No.6405 OF 2021

BETWEEN

H C REVANASIDDAPPA
S/O LATE CHANNABASAPPA
62 YEARS, HIRENALLURU VILLAGE
HIRENALLURU HOBLI
KADUR TALUK
CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT-577 550
                                     ... PETITIONER

[BY SRI. S.G. BHAGAVAN, ADV.]

AND

1.    THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
      BY THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER
      BIRUR POLICE STATION
      BIRUR CIRCLE
      CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT-573 115
      BY SPP
      HIGH COURT BUILDING
      BENGALURU - 560 001

2.    THE TAHASILDAR
      OFFICE OF THE TAHASILDAR
      KADUR TLAUK
      KADUR-577 548
      CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT
                              2



3.   B RAVI
     S/O BHADRAPPA
     MAJOR IN AGE
     REVENUE OFFICER
     OFFICE OF THE TAHASILDAR
     KADUR TALUK
     KADUR-577 548
     CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT
                                       ... RESPONDENTS

[BY SRI. B.J. ROHITH, HCGP FOR R1 AND R2;
    R3 - SERVED]

      THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED UNDER SECTION
482 OF CR.P.C., PRAYING TO QUASH THE ENTIRE
PROCEEDINGS IN FIR IN CR.NO.84/2021 DATED
19.06.2021 AS PER DOCUMENT NO.2 OF BIRUR POLICE
STATION, BIRUR CIRCLE, CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT
AND PENDING ON THE FILE OF III ADDITIONAL CIVIL
JUDGE AND J.M.F.C., KADUR FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S
447, 426, 177 OF IPC AND SECTION 192A OF KARNATAKA
LAND REVENUE ACT, IN SO FAR AS THE PETITIONER IS
CONCERNED.

    THIS CRIMINAL PETITION COMING ON               FOR
ADMISSION THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE                 THE
FOLLOWING:

                        ORDER

Heard Sri.S.G.Bhagavan, learned counsel

appearing for the petitioner and Sri.B.J.Rohith, learned

HCGP for respondent Nos.1 and 2.

2. Both the learned counsel appearing for the

petitioner and the respondents would in unison submit

that the issue in the petition stands covered by the

judgment rendered by this Court in ILR 2008 KAR 4520,

wherein this Court has held as follows:

" 2. The main grievance of the petitioners in all these cases is, they are in occupation of the disputed land in question in their own right. It is not a Government land. They have not encroached upon any portion of the Government land. In fact some of them are purchasers of such lands. They are put in possession by their vendors, on the basis of documents handed over to them at the time of purchase. They are not aware of the factual position and may be innocent also. In spite of the same these proceedings are initiated against them as if they have encroached the Government land which is made an offence now by amendment of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act by introducing Section 192A.

     Some of them contend if          it was shown to
     them    that    the   land   which   is   in   their




occupation       or    any    portion        of   it      is    a
Government            land,   they           would        have

surrendered the said land. However, without giving any such opportunity, without conducting any survey in their presence on the basis of Mahazars conducted, on the basis of documents to which they are not parties, a complaint is lodged by the Tahsildar with the jurisdictional police who in turn has initiated criminal proceedings and charge sheets are filed. Therefore, they seek for quashing of the entire proceedings.

      3.       After     notice        the    Government
entered    appearance         and       supported          their
action.    After hearing the matter at length

when it was suggested to the Government that an opportunity ought to have been given to these petitioners and persons who are similarly placed, who if they are convinced that they are in occupation of a Government land, without any intention of entering upon the said land or continued to occupy the said land, they may voluntarily give up such possession. Time was taken to consider whether a provision could be made to

adjudicate these aspects before initiation of proceedings. Today a memo is filed on behalf of the Government enclosing a circular dated 8.9.2008. The said circular reads as under:-

"PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¸ÀPÁðgÀ"

§ºÀÄªÀÄºÀrUÀ¼À PÀlÖqÀ ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ, ¢£ÁAPÀ:08.09.2008.

¸ÀÄvÉÆÛÃ¯É

«µÀAiÀÄ: MvÀÄÛªÀjAiÀiÁzÀ ¸ÀPÁðj d«ÄÃ£À£ÀÄß vÉgÀªÀÅUÉÆ½¸ÀÄªÀ §UÉÎ

******

¸ÀPÁðj d«ÄÃ£ÀÄUÀ¼À°è£À MvÀÄÛªÀjAiÀÄ£ÀÄß vÉgÀªÀÅUÉÆ½¸ÀÄªÀ ¸À®ÄªÁV PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¨sÀÆ PÀAzÁAiÀÄ PÁAiÉÄÝUÉ wzÀÄÝ¥Àr vÀAzÀÄ PÀ®A 192(J) gÀ CrAiÀÄ°è C¥ÀgÁzsÀUÀ¼ÀÄ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ²PÉëUÀ¼ÀÄ JA§ ºÉÆ¸À CzsÁåAiÀÄªÀ£ÀÄß ¸ÉÃ¥ÀðqÉ ªÀiÁqÀ¯ÁVgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. ¸ÀzÀj wzÀÄÝ¥Àr PÁAiÉÄÝAiÀÄ£ÀéAiÀÄ ¸ÀPÁðj d«ÄÃ¤£À°è C£À¢üPÀÈvÀªÁV MvÀÄÛªÀj ªÀiÁrPÉÆArgÀÄªÀªÀgÀ «gÀÄzÀÞ Qæ«Ä£À¯ï ªÉÆPÀzÀÝªÉÄUÀ¼À£ÀÄß zÁR®Ä ªÀiÁqÀ®Ä CªÀPÁ±À PÀ°à¸À¯ÁVgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. ¸ÀzÀj PÁAiÉÄÝAiÀÄ CrAiÀÄ°è Qæ«Ä£À¯ï ªÉÆPÀzÀÝªÉÄUÀ¼À£ÀÄß zÁR®Ä ªÀiÁqÀÄªÀ ªÀÄÄ£Àß ¸ÀA§A¢ü¹zÀªÀjUÉ CªÀgÀÄ ºÉÆA¢gÀÄªÀ zÁR¯ÉUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ºÁdgÀÄ ¥Àr¸À®Ä MAzÀÄ CªÀPÁ±ÀªÀ£ÀÄß (Opportunity) ¤ÃqÀÄªÀÅzÀÄ CªÀ±ÀåªÉAzÀÄ ¸ÀPÁðgÀªÀÅ ªÀÄ£ÀUÀArzÉ.

DzÀÝjAzÀ PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¨sÀÆ PÀAzÁAiÀÄ PÁAiÉÄÝAiÀÄ PÀ®A 192(J) gÀ CrAiÀÄ°è MvÀÄÛªÀjzÁgÀgÀ «gÀÄzÀÞ Qæ«Ä£À¯ï ªÉÆPÀzÀÝªÉÄUÀ¼À£ÀÄß zÁR®Ä ªÀiÁqÀÄªÀ ªÀÄÄ£Àß F PÉ¼ÀPÀAqÀ ªÀiÁUÀð¸ÀÆaUÀ¼À£ÀÄß C£ÀÄ¸Àj¸ÀÄªÀAvÉ ¸ÀÆa¸À¯ÁVzÉ:-

1. ¸ÀPÁðj d«ÄÃ£À£ÀÄß MvÀÄÛªÀj ªÀiÁrPÉÆArgÀÄªÀÅzÁV w½zÀÄ §AzÀ vÀPÀët CAxÀ ªÀåQÛ/¸ÀA¸ÉÜUÉ AiÀiÁªÀ DzsÁgÀzÀ ªÉÄÃ¯É D ¸ÀPÁðj d«ÄÃ¤£À ¸Áé¢üÃ£ÀªÀ£ÀÄß ºÉÆA¢gÀÄwÛÃj JA§ §UÉÎ w½¹, CzÀPÉÌ ¸ÀA§AzsÀ¥ÀlÖ zÁR¯ÁwUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¸ÀÆPÀÛ «ªÀgÀuÉAiÉÆA¢UÉ °TvÀ gÀÆ¥ÀzÀ°è 15 ¢£ÀUÀ¼ÉÆ¼ÀUÁV ¸ÀPÀëªÀÄ ¥Áæ¢üPÁgÀPÉÌ vÀ®Ä¦¸À®Ä w½¸ÀvÀPÀÌzÀÄÝ.

2. ¤UÀ¢üvÀ CªÀ¢üAiÉÆ¼ÀUÉ ¸ÀA§A¢ü¹zÀ MvÀÄÛªÀjzÁgÀgÀÄ AiÀiÁªÀÅzÉÃ zÁR¯ÉUÀ¼À£ÀÄß MzÀV¸ÀzÉÃ EzÀÝ°è ¸ÀPÀëªÀÄ ¥Áæ¢üPÁgÀªÀÅ ¤UÀ¢üvÀ PÁ¯ÁªÀ¢ü ªÀÄÄVzÀ £ÀAvÀgÀ MvÀÄÛªÀj ¸ÀÜ¼ÀPÉÌ ¨sÉÃn ¤Ãr UÁæªÀÄ¸ÀÜgÀ ¸ÀªÀÄPÀëªÀÄzÀ°è vÀ¤SÉ £ÀqÉ¹ MvÀÄÛªÀj JAzÀÄ PÀAqÀÄ§AzÀ°è ªÀÄºÀdgï §gÉzÀÄ CzÀPÉÌ ºÁdjzÀÝ UÁæªÀÄ¸ÀÜgÀ ¸À»UÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¥ÀqÉzÀÄ vÀzÀ£ÀAvÀgÀ MvÀÄÛªÀjzÁgÀgÀ ªÉÄÃ¯É PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¨sÀÆ PÀAzÁAiÀÄ PÁAiÉÄÝ PÀ®A 192(J) gÀrAiÀÄ°è Qæ«Ä£À¯ï ªÉÆPÀzÀÝªÉÄUÀ¼À£ÀÄß zÁR°¸À®Ä PÀæªÀÄ vÉUÉzÀÄPÉÆ¼ÀîvÀPÀÌzÀÄÝ.

3. MvÀÄÛªÀjzÁgÀgÀÄ £ÉÆÃnÃ¸ÀÄ ¥ÀqÉzÀ £ÀAvÀgÀ PÀbÉÃjUÉ ¨sÉÃn ¤Ãr zÁR¯ÁwUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ºÁdgÀÄ¥Àr¹zÀ°è D zÁR¯ÁwUÀ¼À £ÉÊdvÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß «ªÀgÀuÉAiÉÆA¢UÉ PÀÆ®APÀÄµÀªÁV ¥Àj²Ã°¹, zÁR¯ÁwUÀ¼À£ÀÄß £ÀPÀ®Ä CxÀªÁ ¸ÀÈ¶ÖvÀ JAzÀÄ PÀAqÀÄ§AzÀ°è

MvÀÄÛªÀjzÁgÀgÀ «gÀÄzÀÞ ¨sÀÆ PÀAzÁAiÀÄ PÁAiÉÄÝ PÀ®A 192(J) gÀrAiÀÄ°è Qæ«Ä£À¯ï ªÉÆPÀÌzÀÝªÉÄ zÁR°¸À®Ä PÀæªÀÄ PÉÊUÉÆ¼ÀîvÀPÀÌzÀÄÝ.

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r.vÀAUÀgÁeï ¸ÀPÁðgÀzÀ ¥ÀæzsÁ£À PÁAiÀÄðzÀ²ð, PÀAzÁAiÀÄ E¯ÁSÉ (¨sÀÆ.ªÀÄA.).

EªÀjUÉ,

1)J¯Áè ¥ÁæzÉÃ²PÀ DAiÀÄÄPÀÛgÀÄ.

2)J¯Áè f¯Áè¢üPÁjUÀ¼ÀÄ

3)J¯Áè G¥À«¨sÁUÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼ÀÄ.

4)J¯Áè vÀºÀ²Ã¯ÁÝgÀgÀÄ. f¯Áè¢üPÁjUÀ¼À ªÀÄÆ®PÀ

5)ºÉZÀÄÑªÀj ¥Àæw.

4. From the aforesaid circular, it is clear the Government is now convinced that an opportunity should be given to all those alleged encroachers of Government land before any proceedings are initiated under Section 192A of the Act. In fact it stipulates a procedure under which a show cause notice is to be given calling upon those alleged encroachers to file their objections within 15 days. If no objections are received authorities are called upon to visit the spot, conduct a Mahazar in the presence of the villagers,

obtain their signatures and thereafter to initiate criminal proceedings if they are satisfied that there is encroachment. In the event of alleged encroachers producing documents to examine the same and only in the event of the said documents are found to be fabricated or duplicate, to initiate proceedings under Section 192A of the Act. In fact the said procedure contemplated by the Government satisfy the requirement of principles of natural justice, an opportunity is given to these persons to realise whether they have occupied a Government land and if they are convinced to surrender possession to avoid criminal prosecution. That would meet the ends of justice. In that view of the matter, as the criminal prosecution is launched against all these petitions without affording an opportunity to have their say an in the light of the circular which is passed by the Government, these proceedings cannot be sustained."

3. Following the said judgment, the Co-ordinate

Bench of this Court in Crl.P.No.5034/2021 disposed on

27.09.2021, has held as follows:

" 2. In this petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C., the petitioners are accused 2 to 5 in the FIR bearing No.84/2021 registered by Birur Police for the offences punishable under Sections 447, 426 and 177 IPC and Section 192(A) of Karnataka Land Revenue Act. The FIR was registered at the instance of one B.Ravi, Revenue Officer in the Office of the Tahasildar, Kadur Taluk. The allegation is that the 1 st accused - Revanasiddappa, who

Is not before this court, encroached upon the land in Sy.No.209 for the purpose of constructing a house and these petitioners instigated accused no.1 to encroach and build a house.

3. So far as these petitioners are concerned there is no specific allegation that they encroached on the land. Anyway this court in the case of Lalitha Shastry Vs. State

of Karnataka (ILR 2008 Kar. 4520) has clearly enunciated a principle that before initiating prosecution for the offence under Section 192(A) of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, the concerned persons must be heard. Since in this case there is no document to show that the petitioners were heard by the Tahasildar, initiation of criminal action against them cannot be sustained. Therefore

The FIR registered against these petitioners is liable to be quashed, liberty may be given to the 2nd and 3rd respondents to take action in accordance with law. Accordingly the following: