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2004 Supreme(Kar) 445

Karnataka High Court
Smt.Sharfunnissa - Appellant
Versus
Deputy Commissioner - Respondent
Decided On : 07-12-04
Writ Petition : 12012 of 2004

Advocates:
M.Raviprakash, S.S.Karamadi

Non-compliance with statutory provisions disentitles the petitioner to seek conversion of the land.

Headnote:

Karnataka Land Reforms Act - Conversion of Agricultural Land - Section 45, Section 95 of KLR Act, Section 14 and 24(1) of KTCP Act, Section 76m of KTCP Act, Section 61, 62 of KLRF Act - The court discussed the provisions of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, and Karnataka Land Reforms Act in relation to the conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural use. The court emphasized the conditions for conversion, non-alienation period, and the power of the Deputy Commissioner under Section 95 of the KLR Act.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner, a registered occupant under Section 45 of Karnataka Land Reforms Act, sought to convert agricultural land to non-agricultural use. The KAT dismissed the appeal, citing non-compliance with the non-alienation period and failure to cultivate the land personally for three consecutive years.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the petitioner failed to comply with the non-alienation period and the requirement to cultivate the land personally for three consecutive years, leading to the dismissal of the writ petition.

Issues: Non-compliance with non-alienation period, failure to cultivate land personally, and the authority of the Deputy Commissioner under Section 95 of the KLR Act.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the petitioner's non-compliance with statutory provisions disentitled them to seek conversion of the land. The court also emphasized the power of the Deputy Commissioner under Section 95 of the KLR Act.

Final Decision: The writ petition was dismissed, and the Tahsildar was directed to evict the petitioner from the lands for failure to cultivate personally.

( 1 ) THE petitioner who is registered as occupant under Section 45 of Karnataka Land Reforms Act of 1961 (in short called as KLRF Act) in respect of 13 Acres 23 Guntas of land in Survey Nos. 169, 171 and 172 of Devanur village, Kasaba hobli, Mysore Taluk, is aggrieved by the order passed by the KAT dismissing the appeal and confirming the order passed by the 1st respondent refusing to convert the land from agricultural use to non-agricultural purpose. Hence, he has prayed to quash the endorsements issued by R-1 vide Annexures D and E dated 26/8/2002 and 4/11/2002 respectively and also to quash the impugned order at Annexure G dated 27/10/2003 urging various legal contentions.

( 2 ) THE learned Counsel for the petitioner Mr. Ravi Prakash has placed strong reliance upon the decision of this Court reported in 1986 (1) KLJ 237 (State of Karnataka Vs. The Ryots Agricultural Produce Cooperative Marketing Society Employees Co-operative Society Ltd. And ANR.) Wherein the provision of Section 95 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 (in short KLR Act) has been interpreted by this Court and law has been laid down as under : the Authority to grant conversion cannot refuse the same if it is not covered by the prohibitions contained in Section 95 of the Land Revenue Act. The alienation of agricultural lands in favour of disqualified persons are dealt with different laws, who has got its own machinery to deal with the breach of the laws and the Special Deputy Commissioner acting under Section 95 of the Act cannot assume those functions. The counsel has placed reliance upon the Division Bench Judgment of this Court reported in ILR 1988 (2) (Special Deputy Commissioner Vs. Narayanappa) wherein after interpreting Sections14 and 24 (1) of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961 (KTCP Act for short) and also Section 95 of the KLR Act with reference to Section 76m of the KTCP Act at Paragraph 13 it is held that, if a land fell within the ODP or CDP prepared for Bangalore Metropolitan Planning area the Special Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore, ceases to have any power under Section 95 of the Act, in view of the over-riding effect given to the provisions of the Planning Act by the Section 76m thereof over all other laws which includes The Land Revenue Act.

( 3 ) I have examined the correctness of the impugned orders passed by the 1st respondent and the KAT with reference to the undisputed fact that the petitioner is registered as an occupant in respect of the aforesaid agricultural lands by the Land Tribunal vide its order dated 12-3-1999 to her with a condition of non-alienation of the lands in question for a period of 15 years from the date of the order passed by the Tribunal as per Section 61 of the KLRF Act.

( 4 ) SECTION 62 of the KLRF Act stipulates that, if the person who has been registered as occupant under Chapter-III of the KLRF Act or his successor in title intends within six years from the date of such registration to give up personal cultivation of the land, he shall surrender the land to the State Government. The surrendered land shall be at the disposal of the State Government.

( 5 ) UNDISPUTEDLY, 15 years period of non-alienation of the lands from the date of the order passed by the Tribunal stipulated under Section 61 (1) of the Act is not yet over as on the date the petitioner sought conversion of the lands. There is no provision in the KLRF Act to relax the condition regarding non alienation of the lands either by the State Government or any other authority.

( 6 ) SECTION 60 of the KLRF Act postulates as follows : failure TO CULTIVATE PERSONALLY : Notwithstanding anything contained in any law, if at any time after the tenant has been registered as occupant under any of the foregoing provisions, such tenant fails to cultivate the land personally for three years, he shall, unless the Tahsildar condones such failure for sufficient reasons, be evicted and the land shall be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of










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