Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned HCGP for the respondents.

2. Petitioner is before this Court being aggrieved by the order of the Karnataka Appellate Tribunal rendered in (Revenue) Appeal No.98/2017 dated 22.02.2018 whereby, the Appellate Tribunal has been pleased to confirm the order of the Authorized Officer and consequently was pleased to dismiss the appeal.

3. The facts in brief are that, the petitioner is the tenant/occupant of the land comprised in Sy.No.146/6 measuring 2 acres 5 guntas and situated in Mallenahalli Village, Talagunda Hobli, Shikaripura Taluk, Shivamogga District. That the land is in possession and cultivation of the petitioner since the time of his father and that the father of the petitioner omitted to file an application in Form No.7 seeking for confirmation of occupancy rights and that pursuant to the amendment of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Act’ for short) inserting Section 77A (1) the petitioner has preferred an application in Form No.7A on 17.12.1998 seeking for grant of occupancy rights.

4. That the Authorized Officer in proceedings No.L.R.T.7A.CR.01/992000 dated 05.10.2016 after con