( 1 ) THE land in dispute admeasures 30 guntas out of survey No. 177 situate at kadukothanahalli village in mandya district. The land was granted to respondent 4 in accordance with the Mysore land revenue (Amendment) rules, 1960 by the competent authority. The saguvalli chit was issued in favour of respondent 4 on February 15, 1971. The saguvalli chit contains a condition that the grantee shall not alienate the land for a duration of 15 years from the date of grant. The grantee transferred the land in favour of the appellant by registered document on February 29, 1978. The transfer was within a duration of 15 years from the date of the grant. The appellant is in possession of the land in dispute from the date of transfer.

( 2 ) THE government of Karnataka enacted the Karnataka scheduled castes and scheduled tribes (prohibition of transfer of certain lands) Act, 1978 (hereinafter referred to as the 'act') to provide for the prohibition of transfer of certain lands granted by the government to persons belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in the state. Section 4 of the act inter alia provides that transfer of any granted land made either before or after