Proceedings involving forfeited agricultural lands under the Karnataka Land Reforms Act must be abated per Section 12(2) of the 2020 Amendment if such lands have not been granted to third parties, as the Assistant Commissioner is required to verify the status of land retention before finalizing proceedings.

1. Heard learned counsel appearing for the parties.

2. In this Writ Petition, the petitioner is assailing the order dated 20.01.2025 in Rev. Appeal No.438/2022 (Annexure-H) passed by Karnataka Appellate Tribunal and the order dated 28.04.2015 passed by respondent No.2 (Annexure-D).

3. Sri. H. Kantaraj, learned Senior Counsel, appearing on behalf of J.R.Mohan, learned counsel for the petitioner, contended by referring to the order passed by the Karnataka Appellate Tribunal (Annexure-H), that the reasons assigned by the Tribunal requires to be set aside on the ground that the matter has been challenged by the petitioner herein on earlier occasion also (Annexure-B), whereby the matter was remanded back to the respondent No.1 therein with a direction to dispose of the same in accordance with law after getting the notice served and after affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner and accordingly, sought for interference of this Court.

4. Per contra, learned Additional Government Advocate sought to justify the impugned order passed by the Karnataka Appellate Tribunal.

5. In the light of the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing for the parties, on careful consideration of the observation made by the Karnataka Appellate Tribunal in Appeal No.438/2022(Annexure-H) would indicate that the Tribunal had arrived at the conclusion that the amendment made to S.12(2) of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act is not applicable to the facts of the case and accordingly, rejected the claim made by the petitioner, however condoned the delay.

6. I have carefully examined the reasons assigned by the Karnataka Appellate Tribunal at Para Nos.12 and 13 of the impugned order at Annexure-H, wherein the Tribunal arrived at the conclusion that in view of the promulgation of the Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, as no appeal proceedings was pending as on 13.07.2020, Section 12 (2) of the Amendment does not apply to the facts of the case and accordingly, rejected the application made by the petitioner. However, it is also to be noted from the observation made by this Court in the Order dated 11.09.2025 in W.P.No.25710/2025, wherein, at para No.6, it is held as follows:

"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 petitioners. 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 the Assistant Commissioner."

7. In that view of the matter, I am of the view that, the matter requires reconsideration by the Karnataka Appellate Tribunal in the light of the observation made by this Court and take decision in the matter after verifying the original records.

8. Accordingly, I pass the following:

ORDER

(i) The Writ Petition is allowed.

(ii) The Order dated 20.01.2025 in Rev. Appeal No.438/2022, is accordingly, set aside. M