- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32199 WP No. 18218 of 2015 C/W WP No. 18219 of 2015 WP No. 18306 of 2015 AND 1 OTHER IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 29TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.G.S. KAMAL WRIT PETITION NO. 18218 OF 2015 (GM-RES) C/W WRIT PETITION NO. 18219 OF 2015 (GM-RES) WRIT PETITION NO. 18306 OF 2015 (GM-RES) WRIT PETITION NO. 18313 OF 2015 (GM-RES) IN WP No. 18218/2015 BETWEEN: SRI RAMA CHAITANYA VARDHINI SABHA KACHARAKANAHALLI (KESHAVANAGARA) BANGALORE-560 084 REPRESENTED BY ITS WORKING PRESIDENT SRI MUNINAGA REDDY @ M N REDDY S/O LATE MUNISWAMY REDDY AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. T SESHAGIRI RAO, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY VIDHANASOUDHA BANGALORE-560 001. 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BANGALORE URBAN Digitally signed by SUMA B N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32199 WP No. 18218 of 2015 C/W WP No. 18219 of 2015 WP No. 18306 of 2015 AND 1 OTHER K G ROAD BANGALORE-560 009. 3. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER BANGALORE NORTH SUB DIVISION KANDAYABHAVAN BUILDING K G ROAD BANGALORE-560 009. 4. THE TAHSILDAR BANGALORE NORTH TALUK KANDAYABHAVAN BUILDING K G ROAD BANGALORE-560 009. 5. THE DEPUTY TAHSILDAR NADAKACHERI DEVARAJEEVANAHALLI KASABA-1 BANGALORE NORTH TALUK - 560 045. 6. THE REVENUE INSPECTOR DEVARAJEEVANAHALLI CIRCLE KASABA HOBLI BANGALORE NORTH TALUK-560 045. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. MAHANTESH SHETTAR, AGA) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED PROCEEDINGS ONE HELD BY THE R-5 DATED 22.04.2015 VIDE ANNEXURE-G TO THE WRIT PETITION. IN WP NO. 18219/2015 BETWEEN: SHAKTI SRI SIRDI SAI SEVA SAMITHI - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32199 WP No. 18218 of 2015 C/W WP No. 18219 of 2015 WP No. 18306 of 2015 AND 1 OTHER SREE RAMA TEMPLE COMPLEX (DAKSHINA AYODHDYA) SREE RAMA TEMPLE ROAD KACHARAKANAHALLI H B R LAYOUT BANGALORE-560 043 REPRESENTED BY ITS GENERAL SECRETARY SRI P BABU S/O LATE PADMANABHA AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. C M NAGABUSHANA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY VIDHANASOUDHA BANGALORE-560 001. 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BANGALORE URBAN K G ROAD BANGALORE-560 009. 3. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER BANGALORE NORTH SUB DIVISION KANDAYABHAVAN BUILDING K G ROAD BANGALORE-560 009. 4. THE TAHSILDAR BANGALORE NORTH TALUK KANDAYABHAVAN BUILDING K G ROAD BANGALORE-560 009. 5. THE DEPUTY TAHSILDAR NADAKACHERI DEVARAJEEVANAHALLI - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32199 WP No. 18218 of 2015 C/W WP No. 18219 of 2015 WP No. 18306 of 2015 AND 1 OTHER KASABA-1 BANGALORE NORTH TALUK - 560 045. 6. THE REVENUE INSPECTOR DEVARAJEEVANAHALLI CIRCLE KASABA HOBLI BANGALORE NORTH TALUK - 560 045. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. MAHANTESH SHETTAR, AGA) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED PROCEEDINGS ONE HELD BY THE R-5 DATED 22.04.2015 VIDE ANNEXURE-H TO THE WRIT PETITION. IN WP NO. 18306/2015 BETWEEN: INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS A SOCIETY REGISTERED UNDER THE SOCIETIES REGISTRATION ACT, 1861 ALSO REGISTERED UNDER THE BOMBAY PUBLIC TRUSTS ACT, HAVING ITS OFFICE AT HARE KRISHNA LAND, JUHU, MUMBAI -400 036. AND TEMPLE AT RAMA TEMPLE COMPOUND KACHARAKANAHALLI LINGARAJAPURAM MAIN ROAD H B R LAYOUT, BANGALORE-560043. REPRESENTED BY AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY SRI VARADA KRSNA DASA. …PETITIONER (BY SRI.SASRAVANA S., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32199 WP No. 18218 of 2015 C/W WP No. 18219 of 2015 WP No. 18306 of 2015 AND 1 OTHER DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY VIDHANA SOUDHA BANGALORE - 560 001. 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BANGALORE URBAN K G ROAD BANGALORE - 560 009. 3. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER BANGALORE NORTH SUB-DIVISION KANDAYA BHAVAN BUILDING K G ROAD BANGALORE 560 009. 4. THE TAHSILDAR BANGALORE NORTH TALUK KANDAYA BHAVAN BUILDING K G ROAD BANGALORE - 560 009. 5. THE DEPUTY TAHSILDAR NADAKACHERI DEVARAJEEVANAHALLI KASABA - 560 097. BANGALORE NORTH TALUK. 6. THE REVENUE INSPECTOR DEVARAJEEVANAHALLI CIRCLE KASABA HOBLI BANGALORE NORTH TALUK - 560 097. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. MAHANTESH SHETTAR, AGA) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED PROCEEDINGS ONE HELD BY THE R-5 DATED 22.04.2015 VIDE ANNEXURE-E TO THE WRIT PETITION. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32199 WP No. 18218 of 2015 C/W WP No. 18219 of 2015 WP No. 18306 of 2015 AND 1 OTHER IN WP NO. 18313/2015 BETWEEN: VASAVI TRUST AND TEMPLE AT RAMA TEMPLE COMPOUND, KACHARAKANAHALLI, LINGARAJAPURAM MAIN ROAD H B R LAYOUT BANGALORE - 560 072 REPRESENED BY ITS PRESIDENT SRI G K PANDURANGAIAH. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. MOHAN BHAT., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY VIDHANA SOUDHA BANGALORE-560 001. 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BANGALORE URBAN K G ROAD BANGALORE-560 009. 3. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER BANGALORE NORH SUB-DIVISION KANDAYA BHAVAN BUILDING K G ROAD BANGALORE-560 009. 4. THE TAHSILDAR BANGALORE NORTH TALUK KANDAYA BHAVAN BUILDING K G ROAD BANGALORE-560 009. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32199 WP No. 18218 of 2015 C/W WP No. 18219 of 2015 WP No. 18306 of 2015 AND 1 OTHER 5. THE DEPUTY TAHSILDAR NADAKACHERI DEVARAJEEVANAHALLI KASABA-1 BANGALORE NORTH TALUK - 560 072. 6. THE REVENUE INSPECTOR DEVARAJEEVANAHALLI CIRCLE KASABA HOBLI BANGALORE NORTH TALUK - 560 072. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. MAHANTESH SHETTAR, AGA) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED PROCEEDINGS ONE HELD BY THE R-5 DATED 22.4.2015 VIDE ANNEXURE-E TO THE WRIT PETITION. THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN 'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.G.S. KAMAL ORAL ORDER Petitioners in these writ petitions have a common grievance which is issuance of communication dated 22.04.2015 by the Assistant Tahsildar to the Tahsildar, Bangalore North Taluk, in terms of the said communication, the Assistant Tahsildar has claimed to have taken possession of Temples and religious institutions existing on the land bearing - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32199 WP No. 18218 of 2015 C/W WP No. 18219 of 2015 WP No. 18306 of 2015 AND 1 OTHER Sy.No.153 of Kacharakanahalli Village, Kasaba Hobli, Bangalore North Taluk, on the premise of same having been constructed on the Government land by encroaching upon them and has also claimed to have sealed the hundis of the said temples and institutions, which read as under: "ೕಲಂಡ ಷಯ ಉೇಖೆ ಸಂಬಂದಂೆ, ¢£ÁAPÀ 20.04.2015 gÀAzÀÄ ªÀiÁ£Àå ಉಪ ಾಾಾಗಳ, ೆಂಗಳ ರು ಉತ$ರ ಉಪ ಾಗ ಮತು$ &ಾನ( ತಹ*ೕಾ+,, ೆಂಗಳ ರು ಉತ$ರ ಾಲೂಕು ರವರುಗಳ ಕಸಾ 0ೋಬ1 ಾಚರಕನಹ13 ಾ4ಮದ ಸ.ನಂ.153 ರ ಸಾ5 ೆ6ೆ ಅಂಗಳದ8 ಅನಕೃತ:ಾ; <=5ರುವ >ೇವ?ಾ@ನಗಳನುA ಸಾ5ರದ ವಶೆ ¥ÀqÉAiÀÄĪÀ ¸À®ÄªÁV ¸ÀܼÀzÀ°è ºÁdjgÀĪÀAvÉ w½¹zÀÄÝ, £ÀAvÀgÀ 21-4-2015 gÀAzÀÄ ಸದ ಅಾಗಳ ಸಮCಮದ8 ಅನಕೃತ:ಾ; <=5ದ+ ೋದಂಡ6ಾಮ?ಾD= >ೇವ?ಾ@ನ, ಲEFೕನರಂಹ?ಾD= >ೇವ?ಾ@ನ ಇ?ಾH >ೇವ?ಾ@ನ, ಕ<Aಾ ಪರೕಶD >ೇವ?ಾ@ನ ಮತು$ ?ಾI ಾಾ >ೇವ?ಾ@ನ, ಕಾ(ಣ ಮಂಟಪಗಳ 0ಾಗೂ ಸದ >ೇವ?ಾ@ನಗ1ೆ ಸಂಬಂದ ಹುಂLಗಳನುA ಸಾ5ರದ ವಶೆ ಪMೆಯಾIತು ಮತು$ ಹುಂLಗಳನುA ೕN &ಾಡಾ;>ೆ. >ೇವ?ಾ@ನಗಳ8 ನMೆಯುO$ರುವ ಪPQಾ ೈಂಕಯ5ಗಳ Sನ<ತ(ದಂೆ ನMೆಯಲು ಅನುವT &ಾLೊಡಾ;>ೆ 0ಾಗೂ ಸದ ಸDತ$ನುA ಸಾ5ರೆ ಪMೆSರುವ ಬೆU VಾಮಫಲಕವನುA ಸಹ 0ಾಕಾ;ರುತ$>ೆ. ಈ ಬೆU YಾವT>ೇ ತಂZೆ ತಕ6ಾರು ಇರುವTSಲ:ೆಂದು ಾ4ಮ ಮಹಜ, <ಂದ O1ದುಬರುತ$>ೆ ಎಂಬ ಷಯವನುA 6ಾಜಸD <ೕCಕರ ವರS 0ಾಗೂ ಾ4ಮ ಮಹಜ, VೊಂSೆ ಸ8>ೆ. (ಹುಂLಗ1ೆ ಅಳವLಸಾ;ರುವ ]ೕಗದ ^ೕಗಳನುA ಲಗO$>ೆ)." 2. The endorsement further reads that there has been no opposition or objections from anyone whomsoever as emanating from the mahazar drawn and the report of the revenue officer. - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32199 WP No. 18218 of 2015 C/W WP No. 18219 of 2015 WP No. 18306 of 2015 AND 1 OTHER 3. Sri.Sheshagiri Rao, learned counsel appearing for petitioner in W.P.No.18218/2015 refuting the contents of the said communication, draws attention of this Court to the Judgment and Decree passed in O.S.No.6168/1990 as well as in O.S.No.8997/2014, which was initiated by the villagers of Kacharakanahalli against the State, Deputy Commissioner, Tahsildar and certain private individuals. Drawing attention of this Court to the contents of the said judgment, he submits that the religious institutions have been in existence as per the findings in the said judgment since over 500 years. The attempt of the respondent authorities to take over the land on two occasions has been resisted lawfully by the villagers. He also submits that on the second occasion, matter at the instance of the respondent-State was referred to Lok Adalath where the respondent-State had undertaken not to interfere with the affairs of the temple. Inspite of that, close to conclusion of said proceedings, the Assistant Tahsildar, in malafide exercise of his powers and without there being any authority has issued the impugned communication, once again re-igniting the issue which was already settled. He submits proceedings if any were to have been initiated by the Deputy - 10 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32199 WP No. 18218 of 2015 C/W WP No. 18219 of 2015 WP No. 18306 of 2015 AND 1 OTHER Commissioner in terms of Section 67 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act. Even on that count, the action initiated by respondent-Assistant Tahsildar is one without jurisdiction. He relies upon order dated 12.07.2023 passed by the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in Writ Petition No.14456/2023 and submits that under identical circumstances the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court while quashing similar communication had directed the authorities to initiate the proceedings in accordance with law. If such order is passed, he submits the purpose of the petition would be served. 4. Learned counsels appearing for the other petitioners adopt the submissions made by learned counsel Sri.Sheshagiri Rao. 5. Learned AGA in response submits that though there has been judgment and decree passed by the trial Court, there was a rider in that the defendants therein were reserved with liberty to initiate proceedings to remove the further encroachments. He submits by the impugned communication, the Tahsildar has only made attempt to remove the further encroachments. He however submits that in the light of the - 11 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32199 WP No. 18218 of 2015 C/W WP No. 18219 of 2015 WP No. 18306 of 2015 AND 1 OTHER order passed by the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in W.P.No.14456/2023 vide order dated 12.07.2023 and in the light of the provisions of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, the Deputy Commissioner or competent authority as the case may be would initiate action and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law. 6. In view of the aforesaid facts and submissions made by learned counsel for the parties, petitions are allowed. Impugned communication dated 22.04.2015 is quashed. 7. The concerned Deputy Commissioner or the competent authority, as the case may be, is/are at liberty to initiate the proceedings with regard to any encroachment strictly in accordance with law and after affording sufficient opportunity to petitioners herein and parties interested and appropriate order in accordance with law shall be passed. SD/- (M.G.S. KAMAL) JUDGE SBN