Karnataka High Court
Sri. Muniyappa vs Government Of Karnataka on 19 April, 2024
Author: R Devdas
Bench: R Devdas
-1-
NC: 2024:KHC:15516
WP No. 11320 of 2024
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF APRIL, 2024
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE R DEVDAS
WRIT PETITION NO. 11320 OF 2024 (LR)
BETWEEN:
SRI. MUNIYAPPA,
S/O LATE BUJJANNA,
AGED ABOUT 79 YEARS,
RESIDING AT SIDDANAHALLI VILLAGE,
NANDAGUDI HOBLI, HOSKOTE TALUK,
BANGALORE RURAL DISTRICT,
PIN CODE : 562 114.
(SENIOR CITIZEN NOT CLAIMED.)
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI. BHASKAR GOWDA N.M.,ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA,
REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY,
Digitally signed REVENUE DEPARTMENT, M.S. BUILDING,
by GAYATHRI P
G BANGALORE - 560 001.
Location: High
Court of 2. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER,
Karnataka DODDABALLAPURA SUB DIVISION,
DODDABALLAPURA,
BANGALORE RURAL DISTRICT,
PIN CODE : 562 103.
3. TAHSILDAR,
HOSAKOTE TALUK,
PIN CODE : 562 114.
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. C.N.MAHADESHWARAN., AGA)
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WP No. 11320 of 2024
THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 AND 227 OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASHING THE
IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 25/09/1997, PASSED BY THE R2 /
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, DODDABALLAPURA SUB-
DIVISION IN L.R.F.SR.14/91-92 AS PER ANNEXURE-C AND
ETC.,
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY,
THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING:
ORDER
R.DEVDAS J., (ORAL):
Learned Additional Government Advocate takes
notice for all the respondents.
2. The petitioner is aggrieved by the order of
forfeiture dated 25.09.1997 passed by the Assistant
Commissioner, Doddaballapura Sub-Division,
Doddaballapura, Bangalore Rural District under the
provisions of Section 83 for violation of the provisions
contained in Sections 79-A and 79-B of the Karnataka
Land Reforms Act, 1961.
3. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that
this is a case where the impugned order of forfeiture has
been passed by the Assistant Commissioner without notice
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to the petitioner. It is further submitted that under similar
circumstances, a co-ordinate Bench of this Court in
W.P.No.7821/2021 has passed an order dated 16.08.2021
remanding the matter back to the Assistant Commissioner
for fresh consideration after affording an opportunity of
hearing to the aggrieved person.
4. Admittedly, as on the date of the Karnataka
Land Reforms (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, no
proceedings were pending before any Court/authority.
5. Learned Additional Government Advocate points
out from the impugned order that notice was indeed
issued to the petitioner and in spite of notice having been
issued, the petitioner did not appear before the Assistant
Commissioner.
6. It is the contention of the learned Additional
Government Advocate that even as per the materials
available on record, after forfeiture, the excess lands have
been granted by the State Government to third parties.
The Assistant Commissioner is therefore required to
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ascertain, whether the forfeited lands still remain with the
State Government or has been granted to third parties. If
the lands have been granted to third party, then sub-
section(1) of Section 12 of the amending Act will apply to
say that the proceedings have reached finality. Or
otherwise, sub-section (2) of Section 12 of the Amending
Act will apply and all further proceedings shall be declared
as abated by the Assistant Commissioner.
7. Having considered the submission of the
learned Counsels and on perusing the judgment of the co-
ordinate Bench in W.P.No.7821/2021, this Court finds that
facts and circumstances in both these matters are quite
similar and therefore, the benefit of the decision of the co-
ordinate bench should also enure to the petitioner herein.
8. Consequently, the writ petition is allowed. The
impugned order dated 25.09.1997 passed by the Assistant
Commissioner in L.R.F.SR.14/91-92 is hereby quashed and
set aside. The matter is remanded back to the respondent-
Assistant Commissioner to consider the case of the
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petitioner including the consequences of the subsequent
amendment brought to the provisions of Sections 79-A
and 79-B of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act in Karnataka
Amendment No.56 of 2020.
9. The petitioner shall appear before the respondent
No.2 - Assistant Commissioner on 28.05.2024, without
waiting for further notice from the Assistant
Commissioner.
10. Ordered accordingly.
11. Learned Additional Government Advocate is
permitted to file Memo of Appearance within a period of
four weeks from today.
Sd/-
JUDGE
RMS/CR
