- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7325 WP No. 900 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 6TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS WRIT PETITION NO. 900 OF 2026 (SCST-) BETWEEN: SRI. R. KANTHARAJU S/O. MR. B.K. RANGANATHA AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS R/AT BHOOTHANAHALLI VILLAGE DODDERI HOBLI, MADHUGIRI TALUK TUMAKURU DISTRICT - 572 112. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. PRAKASH K.A, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER MINI VIDHANA SOUDHA, NEAR AMMANI KERE, TIPPUR TUMAKURU - 572 216. 2. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER MADHUGIRI SUB-DIVISION, MINI VIDHANA SOUDHA, MADHUGIRI TUMAKURU DISTRICT - 572 132. 3. THE TAHSILDAR MADHUGIRI TALUK MADHUGIRI, Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7325 WP No. 900 of 2026 TUMAKURU DISTRICT - 572 175 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. V. SESHU, HCGP) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE ORDER DATED 05.12.2025 PASSED IN CASE NO. PTCL/6/2023 BY R2 (ANNX-A) IN RESPECT OF THE LAND BEARING SY. NO. 124 MEASURING 33 GUNTAS SITUATED AT SIDDAPURA VILLAGE KASABA HOBLI. MADHGURI TALUK, TUMAKURU DISTRICT AND ETC., 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 High Court Government Pleader takes notice for all the respondents. 2. Learned High Court Government Pleader raises preliminary objections that the petitioner is challenging an order passed by the Assistant Commissioner under the provisions of the Karnataka Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (Prohibition of Transfer of Certain Lands) Act, 1978 (for short, 'the Act'), while the petitioner has an alternative efficacious - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7325 WP No. 900 of 2026 remedy available before the Deputy Commissioner in the form of Section 5A to prefer an appeal. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner, however, submits that the Assistant Commissioner took up the matter suo motu at the instance of the Deputy Commissioner and therefore, no useful purpose would be served to go before the Deputy Commissioner. 4. Such a contention cannot be accepted. Powers are available with the Assistant Commissioner to take up the matter suo motu in terms of the provisions of the Act. Therefore, the petitioner will have to file an appeal before the Deputy Commissioner if he is aggrieved by the impugned order passed by the Assistant Commissioner. 5. With these observations, the writ petition stands disposed of, reserving liberty to the petitioner to approach the Deputy Commissioner. 6. Office is hereby directed to return the original/certified copies of the impugned order to the petitioner while retaining a copy of the same for the file. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7325 WP No. 900 of 2026 Learned High Court Government Pleader 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.: 2