- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29103 WP No. 17295 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 29TH DAY OF JULY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS WRIT PETITION NO. 17295 OF 2025 (LR) BETWEEN: CHIKKABASAVA S/O GARE CHANNAIAH, AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS, R/AT 4TH CROSS, TAVARAGERE, MANDYA CITY-571403. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SREENIVASAN M Y., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA STATE OF KARNATAKA, R/P BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY, REVENUE DEPARTMENT, M.S.BUILDING BANGALORE-560001 2. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, MANDYA SUB-DIVISION, MANDYA-571401. 3. TAHSILDAR, MANDYA TQ, MANDYA-571401. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.K.P.YOGANNA, AGA) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE Digitally signed by JUANITA THEJESWINI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29103 WP No. 17295 of 2025 IMPUGNED ORDER DTD. 17.03.2020 PASSED BY THE R-2 IN L.R.F.NO. 307/2016-2017 VIDE ANNEXURE-C TO THE WRIT PETITION IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS ORAL ORDER Learned Additional Government Advocate takes notice for all the respondents. 2. The petitioner is aggrieved of the impugned order dated 17.03.2020 passed by the Assistant Commissioner, Mandya Sub-Division, in proceedings bearing No.L.R.F.No.307/2016-17, which was initiated by the Tahsildar invoking Sections 79A and 79B of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961 (for short, 'the Act'). As seen from the impugned order, earlier the appeal was allowed by order dated 23.05.2017, directing restoration of lands in favour of the Government. The petitioner approached the Karnataka Appellate Tribunal in Appeal No.1186/2017 and the Tribunal allowed the appeal on - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29103 WP No. 17295 of 2025 29.04.2019 while remanding the matter back to the Assistant Commissioner for fresh consideration. On remand, the Assistant Commissioner has considered the matter once again and has passed the impugned order holding that the petitioner has violated the provisions of Sections 79A and 79B of the Act while purchasing the agricultural lands under a registered sale deed dated 22.09.2016. 3. 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 - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29103 WP No. 17295 of 2025 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. 4. For the reasons stated above, this Court proceeds to pass the following; : O R D E R : (i) The writ petition is disposed of. (ii) The matter is remitted back to the respondent-Assistant Commissioner to consider the case of the petitioner including the consequences of the subsequent amendment brought to the provisions of Sections 79A and 79B of the Karnataka Land - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29103 WP No. 17295 of 2025 Reforms Act in Karnataka Amendment No.56 of 2020. (iii) The petitioner shall appear before the respondent-Assistant Commissioner on 28.08.2025 without waiting for further notice from the Assistant Commissioner. (iv) If revenue entries have been altered pursuant to the impugned order dated 17.03.2020, the same shall be restored in favour of the petitioner. Ordered accordingly. 5. Learned Additional Government Advocate is permitted to file memo of appearance within a period of four weeks from today. Sd/- (R DEVDAS) JUDGE rv List No.: 1 Sl No.: 3