- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32501-DB WP No. 17876 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 1ST DAY OF JULY, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA WRIT PETITION NO. 17876 OF 2026 (KLR-RES-PIL) BETWEEN: 1. SRI KRISHNAPPA Y H S/O. HANUMANTHAPPA AGED ABOUT 73 YEARS YALAGONDANAHALLI VILLAGE YELLAMBALSE CHICKMAGALUR-577548. 2. SRI. PANCHAKSHARI S/O. THIMMAPPA AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS YALAGONDANAHALLI VILLAGE YELLAMBALSE CHICKMAGALUR-577548. 3. SRI. ESHWARAPPA Y.B. S/O. BASAPPA AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS YALAGONDANAHALLI VILLAGE YELLAMBALSE Digitally signed by K P SWETHA Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32501-DB WP No. 17876 of 2026 CHICKMAGALUR-577548 4. SRI. Y.R. HANUMANTHAPPA S/O. LATE RAMAPPA AGED ABOUT 72 YEARS YALAGONDANAHALLI VILLAGE YELLAMBALSE CHICKMAGALUR-577548 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI N R NAIK, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY REVENUE DEPARTMENT VIDHANA SOUDHA BENGALURU-560001. 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER CHICKMAGALUR DISTRICT CHICKMAGALUR-577548. 3. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER THARIKERE SUB-DIVISION CHICKMAGALUR-577548. 4. THE TAHASILDAR KADURU TALUK CHICKMAGALUR-577548. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32501-DB WP No. 17876 of 2026 5. THE REVENUE INSPECTOR TAHASILDAR OFFICE KADUR TALUK CHICKMAGALUR-577548. 6. THE VETERINARY OFFICER VETERINARY MEDICINE YALLAMBALSE KADUR TALUK CHICKMAGALUR-577548. 7. THE SECRETARY DR. BABU JAGAJEEVANRAO DEVELOPMENT TRUST (R) KADURU TALUK CHICKMAGALUR-577548. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. NILOUFER AKBAR, AGA FOR R-1 TO R-6) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA READ WITH RULE 14(1) OF THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA (PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION) RULES, 2018 PRAYING TO PROTECT THE GOMAL LAND IN SY.NO.31 OF YALAGONDANAHALLI VILLAGE, YEGATI HOBLI, KADUR TALUK, CHICKMAGALUR DISTRICT TOTAL MEASURING 24 ACRES 35 GUNTAS AND SY.NO.32 MEASURING 24 ACRES 30 GUNTAS AND SY.NO.39 MEASURING 25 ACRES 34 GUNTAS WHICH ARE ALL GOMAL LAND SHOW IN THE RTCs, WHICH ARE PRODUCED AT ANNEXURES-C, C1 AND C2 . THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32501-DB WP No. 17876 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE and HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE) 1. The petitioners have filed the present petition as a public interest litigation, inter alia, praying that directions be issued to protect Gomal land measuring 24 acres and 35 guntas in Sy.No.31; 24 acres and 30 guntas in Sy.No.32; 25 acres and 34 guntas in Sy. No.39 of Yalagondanahalli Village, Yegati Hobli, Kadur Taluk, Chikkamagalur District. 2. The petitioner states that the said lands are now being diverted to respondent No.7 (Dr. Babu Jagajeevanrao Development Trust (R). 3. The learned counsel for the petitioners refers to a communication dated 03.09.2024 issued by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate which refers to a letter dated 12.08.2024 issued by the Chief Minister's Office. He contends that the said communication indicates that 90 acres of Gomal land are directed to be transferred to respondent No.7. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32501-DB WP No. 17876 of 2026 4. However, a plain reading of the said letter dated 03.09.2024 does not support the contention as advanced on behalf of the petitioner. The said letter indicates that a representation was received from respondent No.7 seeking that the lands be distributed to landless persons belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category. 5. In view of the said communication dated 03.09.2024, the concerned authority (Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate) had directed that the details be verified and action be taken in accordance with the rules and regulations. Thus, any distribution of land to landless persons belonging to SC category would be effected only in accordance with the rules and regulations. 6. We find no grounds to interfere with the same. The present petition is accordingly dismissed. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (K.S. HEMALEKHA) JUDGE KPS, List No.: 2 Sl No.: 14