IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 11^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE K.S.HEMALEKHA WRIT PETITION NO. 100632 OF 2026 (KLR-RR/SUR)

BETWEEN:

ANAND S/O. HANMANT PATIL AGED 54 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O. MAIGUR COLONY, JAMKHANDI-587301, DIST: BAGALKOT.

…PETITIONER (BY SRI. RAVICHANDRAGOUDA R. PATIL, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF LAND RECORDS, MUDHOL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT-587313.

2. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF LAND RECORDS, BAGALKOT, DIST: BAGALKOT-587103.

3. THE JOINT DIRECTOR OF Digitally signed LAND RECORDS, BELAGAVI, by MANJANNA E DIST: BELAGAVI-590001.

Location: HIGH MANJANNA COURT OF E K D A H R A N R A W T A A D KA BEN CH Date: 4. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA

2026.02.19

14:53:26 +0530 DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. NANDINI B. SOMAPUR, AGA)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NO.1 TO CONDUCT SURVEY AND FIX BOUNDARIES OF LANDS BEARING SY.NO.167/14 AND 168/1E OF MUDHOL TALUK, BAGALKOT DISTRICT WITHIN A TIME FRAME FIXED BY THIS HON’BLE COURT AND ETC.

THIS WRIT PETITION COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE K.S.HEMALEKHA

ORAL ORDER

1. Learned Addl. Government Advocate accepts notice for the respondents.

2. The petitioner has approached this Court seeking a writ of mandamus directing respondent No.1-Assistant Director of Land Records (ADLR), Mudhol to conduct survey and fix the boundaries of the lands bearing Survey Nos.167/14 and 168/1E situated at Mudhol Taluk, Bagalkot District within a time frame.

3. Brief facts:

3.1. The petitioner claims to be the absolute owner and recorded holder of the lands bearing Survey Nos.167/14 and 168/1E situated at Mudhol Taluk, Bagalkot District.

3.2. The grievance of the petitioner is that, despite repeated requests, the revenue authorities have failed to conduct survey and fix the boundaries of his lands.

3.3. Respondent No.1 - the Assistant Director of Land Records (ADLR), Mudhol, who is the statutory authority, is empowered and obligated under the Karnataka Land Revenue Act and the Rules framed thereunder to conduct surveys and effect boundary fixation.

3.4. It is the specific case of the petitioner that, respondent No.2 – the Deputy Director of Land Records (DDLR), has issued a specific direction to the ADLR to conduct survey of the petitioner’s lands (Annexure-E).

3.5. Further, respondent No.3 – the Joint Director of Land Records (JDLR), who exercises supervisory control over the ADLR, had also issued a categorical direction to conduct the survey of petitioner’s land (Annexure-G).

3.6. Despite such specific directions issued by respondent Nos.2 and 3, respondent No.1 has failed to conduct the survey and has instead issued an endorsement dated 12.11.2025 (Annexure-F) declining to conduct the survey on whimsical grounds.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that, respondent No.1 being a statutory authority, is bound not only by the statutory mandate under the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, but also by the supervisory and administrative directions issued by his higher authorities. The failure to comply with such directions is arbitrary and illegal.

5. Per contra, learned Addl. Government Advocate for the respondents – State fairly submits that, respondent No.1 - ADLR being a statutory authority, is bound by the directions issued by respondent Nos.2 and 3 – DDLR and JDLR respectively, and that appropriate directions would be issued to ensure compliance.

6. This Court has carefully considered the rival submissions and perused the material on record.

7. The DDLR and the JDLR, who exercise supervisory and administrative control over the ADLR, have issued specific directions to conduct survey of the petitioner’s lands (Annexures - E and G respectively). The failure of respondent No.1 - ADLR to comply with such