- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC:14254 WP No. 23472 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 3RD DAY OF APRIL, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE N S SANJAY GOWDA WRIT PETITION NO. 23472 OF 2024 (LR) BETWEEN: 1. SRI A GOPAL REDDY S/O A VENKATREDDY, AGED ABOUT 79 YEARS R/AT SHESHADRI NAGAR, KARNOOL TOWN, KARNOOL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH 690513 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. MANJUNATH K V., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, REVENUE DEPARTMENT, M S BUILDINGS, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BANGALORE 560001 2. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER CHIKKABALLAPURA SUB DIVISION, CHIKKABALLAPURA CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT, KARNATAKA 562101 3. THE TAHSILDAR GOWRIBIDANUR GOWRIBIDANUR TALUK, CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT, BENGALURU 561208 …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. CHANDINI.S., HCGP) Digitally signed by KIRAN KUMAR R Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC:14254 WP No. 23472 of 2024 THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO QUASH THE ORDER DTD 11.08.2015 AT ANNEXURE-C PASSED BY THE R2 IN CASE NO. LRF .79 AB.CR.292/2007-08 AND CONSEQUENTLY RESTORE THE SALE DEED DTD 18.01.2006 AT ANNEXURE-A THAT WAS SET ASIDE OR ANNULLED BY THE R2 VIDE HIS ORDER DTD 11.08.2015 IN CASE NO. LRF.79 AB.CR.292/2007- 08. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN 'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE N S SANJAY GOWDA ORAL ORDER 1. An order of vesting passed by the Assistant Commissioner for contravention of Sections 79A and 79B of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961 ("the Act", for short) is challenged in this petition. 2. The petitioner has produced a copy of the order sheet maintained by the Assistant Commissioner. A perusal of said order sheet would indicate that there was no mention that notice was in fact served on the petitioner. In fact, the entire order sheet maintained basically indicates that the proceedings were being adjourned due to unavailability of the Presiding - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC:14254 WP No. 23472 of 2024 Officer and ultimately, the order was passed stating that Sections 79A and 79B of the Act were contravened which required an order of vesting to be passed. It is therefore clear that the impugned order was passed in gross violation of principles of natural justice. 3. Since the order of vesting would take away the rights of the ownership of land in question, the appropriate course would be to afford one more opportunity to the petitioner. 4. In the normal course, the matter would have to be remanded to the Assistant Commissioner, since Sections 79A and 79B of the Act were omitted by virtue of an amendment to the Land Reforms Act, no useful purpose would be served by remanding the matter to the Assistant Commissioner and hence, the impugned proceedings initiated shall stand abated. - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC:14254 WP No. 23472 of 2024 5. In view of the above, the revenue authorities to restore the name of the petitioner in the revenue record. 6. The writ petition is accordingly allowed. 7. In view of the disposal of the petition, all pending interlocutory applications, if any, stand disposed of. Sd/- (N S SANJAY GOWDA) JUDGE RK List No.: 2 Sl No.: 5