2026 Supreme(Online)(Kar) 20416
THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
R DEVDAS
MRS.JABEENA KOUSER S – Appellant
Versus
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA – Respondent
WP 831/2026
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NC: 2026:KHC:17390 WP No. 831 of 2026
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026
BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS
WRIT PETITION NO. 831 OF 2026 (LR)
BETWEEN:
MRS. JABEENA KOUSER S., AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS
W/O. MR. SHAIK ABDUL JAVEED D/O. MR. SHABEER AHAMED
RESIDING AT 4TH CROSS CEMENT ROAD, TIPPUNAGAR,
RIGHT SIDE GOPALA EXTENSION SHIVAMOGAA - 577 205
AADHAR NO.6784 0045 9742
REPRESENTED BY HER DULY CONSTITUTED ATTORNEY HOLDER
MR. SHABBEER AHAMED AGED ABOUT 71 YEARS Digitally
S/O. MR. IBRAHIM SAB signed by CHAITHANYA RESIDENT OF MADINA MAJID
K M.K.HATTY, KASABA HOBLI Location:
CHITRADURGA - 577 502.
HIGH COURT OF …PETITIONER KARNATAKA
(BY SRI. JAI PRAKASH RAO, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
VIDHANA SOUDHA
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NC: 2026:KHC:17390 WP No. 831 of 2026
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VIDHANA VEEDHI ROAD BANGALORE- 560 001 REPRESENTED BY THE REVENUE SECRETARY
2. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER CHITRADURGA SUB DIVISION
CHITRADURGA TALUK CHITRADURGA DISTRICT - 577 502.
3. THE THASILDAR CHITRADURGA TALUK
CHITRADURGA DISTRICT CHITRADURGA - 577 501.
…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. V.SESHU, HCGP)
THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF
THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO CALL FOR THE ENTIRE RECORDS PERTAINING TO THE PROCEEDINGS FROM THE FILE OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, CHITRADURGA SUB DIVISION, DATED 21.04.2017 IN LRM.79(A)CR/71/15-16 AND TO SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 21.04.2017 IN LRM.79(A)CR/71/15-
16 BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT - ANNEXURE-A AND ETC.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY
HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
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NC: 2026:KHC:17390 WP No. 831 of 2026
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CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS
ORAL ORDER
Learned High Court Government Pleader is directed to
take notice for all the respondents.
2. This writ petition has been filed aggrieved by
the order passed by the Assistant Commissioner in proceedings bearing No.LRM.79(A)CR/71/15-16 dated
21.04.2017 at Annexure-A.
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 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.
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4. Learned High Court Government Pleader 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.
5. Admittedly, as on the date of the Karnataka
Land Reforms (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, no
proceedings were pending before any Court/authority. 6. This Court had several occasions to consider
such cases, where writ petitions are filed long after the provisions contained in Sections 79A, 79B and 79C were omitted from the statute book in terms of the Karnataka Land Reforms (Second Amendment) Act, 2020. It is the consistent opinion of this Court that if at any rate, the Assistant Commissioner, after forfeiting the land has not disposed of the same in accordance with law then the benefit of the saving clause contained in Section 12 of the Amending Act is required to be given to such petitioner.
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The Assistant Commissioner is therefore, required to ascertain, whether the declared excess lands or 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 t