1. These two writ petitions are referred to the Bench by the learned Single Judge, in order to give a finding by the Bench as to whether the land which has been granted to a person belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Community as provided under Section 3(1)(b) of the Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prohibition of Transfer of Certain Lands) Act, 1978, continues to retain its character as granted land, even after the expiry of the period during which the grant is subject to condition of non-alienation.

2. The learned Counsel appearing for both the parties submit that the question now referred to by this Bench by a learned Single Judge is no more res integra. It would be useful for us to refer to the definition of a granted land as defined under Section 3(1)(b) of the Act, which reads as hereunder:

“Granted land” means any land granted by the Government to a person belonging to any of the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes and includes land allotted or granted to such person under the relevant law for the time being in force relating to agrarian reforms or land ceilings or abolition of inams, other than that relating to hereditary offic