- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14986 WP No. 25001 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 11TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM WRIT PETITION NO. 25001 OF 2025 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: 1. SYED JAVID S/O SYED YASIR, AGE ABOUT 49 YEARS R/O KADOMABALLI VILLAGE, VIRUPAKSHIPURA HOBLI, CHANNAPATNA TALUK, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT- 562159 2. SYED WAJID S/O LATE SYED YASIR, AGE ABOUT 51 YEARS R/O KADOMABALLI VILLAGE, VIRUPAKSHIPURA HOBLI, CHANNAPATNA TALUK, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT- 562159 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. PRAMOD R., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, THE REVENUE DEPARTMENT, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU- 560001 Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14986 WP No. 25001 of 2025 2. THE TAHASILDAR CHANNAPATNA TALUK, CHANNAPATNA- 562160 3. THE DEPUTY TAHSILDAR VIRUPAKSHI PURA HOBLI, CHANNAPATNA TALUK- 562138 …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. NAVYA SHEKHAR, AGA) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASHING ANNEXURE-K THE ENDORSEMENT DATED 24.01.2025 ISSUED BY THE DEPUTY TAHASILDAR VIRUPAKSHIPURA HOBLI, CHANNAPATNA TALUK i.e., R3. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM ORAL ORDER The captioned petition is filed seeking the following reliefs: "a) Certiorari quashing Annexure "K", the endorsement dated 24/01/2025 issued by the Deputy Tahasildar, Virupakshipura Hobli, Channapatna Taluk ie 3rd Respondent. b) Grant such other relief or reliefs as this Honorable court thinks fit in the circumstances of the case in the interest of justice and equity." - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14986 WP No. 25001 of 2025 2. The petitioners are aggrieved by the endorsement issued by the 3rd respondent/Deputy Tahasildar calling upon them to furnish the death certificate of the propositor. The petitioners contend that such a requirement is unwarranted and that the authority ought to have proceeded to issue the heirship certificate based on the materials produced by them. 3. This Court has examined the nature and scope of enquiry that can be undertaken by the revenue authorities while considering a request for issuance of a legal heirship certificate. It is well settled that the enquiry conducted by the revenue authorities in such matters is only summary in nature and confined to verification of basic records relating to the death of the propositor and identification of the immediate legal heirs based on available revenue and public records. The jurisdiction exercised by the Tahasildar or Deputy Tahasildar in this regard is administrative and limited, and does not extend to adjudication of complicated questions relating to pedigree or genealogy. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14986 WP No. 25001 of 2025 4. In the present case, the petitioners assert that they are the great-grandchildren of one Lathish Shaw Khadri. Establishing such a relationship necessarily requires proof of lineage across multiple generations. Determination of such genealogical linkage would require a detailed examination of documentary evidence relating to birth, succession and family lineage, and in appropriate cases even oral evidence. Such an enquiry cannot be undertaken in a summary proceeding before the revenue authorities while considering an application for issuance of a legal heirship certificate. 5. Revenue authorities, while exercising their limited jurisdiction in matters relating to issuance of heirship certificates, cannot assume the role of a Civil Court to determine disputed questions relating to ancestry or family lineage. If the claim of the petitioners hinges upon establishing their relationship with a distant ancestor, such a claim necessarily requires adjudication by a competent - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14986 WP No. 25001 of 2025 Civil Court in appropriate proceedings where evidence can be properly led and examined. 6. In that view of the matter, this Court is of the opinion that the claim put forth by the petitioners cannot be examined within the limited scope of enquiry available to the revenue authorities. The proper course for the petitioners would be to approach the competent Civil Court and seek appropriate declaratory relief establishing their relationship with the said Lathish Shaw Khadri. Reserving liberty to the petitioners to avail such remedy in accordance with law, the writ petition stands dismissed. Sd/- (SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM) JUDGE HDK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 5